In the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/photo/fifa-world-cup-2026-cristiano-ronaldo-surpasses-eusebio-record-for-most-world-cup-goals-by-a-portugal-player-111755/1" rel="nofollow">FIFA World Cup 2026</a> match against Uzbekistan, Portugal secured a dominating victory by 5-0 at the Houston Stadium in Texas.
During the match, Portugal's superstar Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace and took his World Cup's goal tally to 10.
Speaking after the match, when asked about a potential face-off with <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/fifa-world-cup-2026-argentina-lionel-messi-earns-praise-from-germany-miroslav-klose-23636536" rel="nofollow">Argentina's skipper Lionel Messi</a>, the Portuguese captain said that it would be "awesome" to clash against him. Ronaldo also added that Portugal's main goal was to secure a win against Uzbekistan and advance to the round of 32.
"I don't know how to answer that. But, well, it would be awesome. The most important thing was today, winning to advance, and being ready for what's next. The main goal was to advance from the group stage, and we did it," he said as quoted by ESPN.
In the previous outing against DR Congo, Ronaldo failed to find the net, which led to criticism of both him and <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/fifa-world-cup-2026-head-coach-roberto-martinez-reflects-on-portugal-draw-against-dr-congo-23635709" rel="nofollow">Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez</a>. The 41-year-old footballer also stated that facing backlash is part of his career.
"It was a very tough and difficult week, with public opinion being very harsh on all the players, especially on me and the coach [Roberto Martinez]. But I don't mind. I've been in this profession for 23 years now, and whenever things go well, 'Cristiano is doing great,' but when they go badly, 'Cristiano is retired, he's too old.' It will always be like that. But we responded well today," said Ronaldo.
<h2>FIFA World Cup 2026, Portugal vs Uzbekistan: Match summary</h2>
The match saw Portuguese skipper Ronaldo script history against Uzbekistan. He found the net in the sixth minute of the game and helped his side take a lead. Soon after the first goal, Portugal's left-back Nuno Mendes scored again in the 17th minute, extending the lead to 2-0.
After Mendes' stupendous free-kick goal, Uzbekistan's players thought they registered their first goal when Azizjon Ganiev found the net. But the goal was ruled out after the VAR intervention over a foul on Joao Cancelo.
Ronaldo then scored a brace in the 39th minute of the match and scripted history by becoming Portugal's leading goalscorer in the FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Later, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/photo/fifa-world-cup-2026-portugal-skipper-cristiano-ronaldo-scripts-history-with-5-0-victory-against-uzbekistan-111754/1" rel="nofollow">Portugal</a>'s lead extended to 4-0 after the ball went in off Uzbekistan's Abduvohid Nematov for an own goal. Portugal's Rafael Leao, who came in as a substitute, scored the final goal of the match, following which the Portuguese men registered a 5-0 victory against Uzbekistan.
(With ANI Inputs)

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