It would be top: Cristiano Ronaldo on facing Lionel Messi at World Cup
(Courtesy : Getty)
Ronaldo scored twice during tonight’s match against Uzbekistan.
Cristiano Ronaldo starred for Portugal during their Group K clash in the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Uzbekistan at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on June 23. The 41-year-old scored twice for Selecao das Quinas, helping them seal a dominant 5-0 win.
The veteran forward broke a record with his goal-scoring outing, becoming the first player to score in six different World Cup editions. The Al-Nassr player has now scored 10 goals for his national side across the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 editions.
Speaking after the match, Ronaldo expressed his happiness at reaching the milestone. He also referred to the immense criticism directed his way after a toothless performance in the match against DR Congo.
“First player to score in 6 World Cups? I’m very happy, but for me, the most important thing is the work the team put in and the confidence we had,” he said. “We took a lot of hits during the week, and we knew that was going to happen.”
“The team worked really well, and we improved a lot. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining,” he added. “For me, breaking records is always a beautiful thing, but my goal is to help the national team achieve its objectives. At this stage, the goal was to get past the group stage, and with four points, I think we’ve already qualified.”
Despite Ronaldo’s suggestion, Portugal have not yet qualified for the knockout stages. They need to win their final group-stage game against Colombia to guarantee qualification. If they draw or lose, qualification will no longer be in their own hands.
Ronaldo reacts to possibility of Leo Messi at World Cup
There was another post-match moment that stole the spotlight. Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, Ronaldo was asked a question about his arch-rival, Lionel Messi. The Argentine has been in sublime form in the expanded 48-team tournament in North America, scoring five goals in his first two matches of the tournament.
However, the Portugal number 7 refused to be drawn into any controversy, simply saying, “Next question.”
But later, he did answer the question:
“Facing Leo Messi at the World Cup? The question doesn’t make a lot of sense… but ok. It would be TOP”.
“But my focus was on today. We won, I have been able to score, we keep going together. I am happy”.
How many World Cup goals does Cristiano Ronaldo have now?
He has scored 10 World Cup goals across his six appearances.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.