Ronaldo fires twice as Portugal thrash Uzbekistan 5-0

Cristiano Ronaldo (41) silenced his critics with two goals as Portugal crushed Uzbekistan 5-0 at the World Cup. The Portuguese veteran, who turned 41 during the tournament, struck twice before half-time to spark a stunning comeback after a goalless first group game against DR Congo. "They said I should retire… but I’m still here," Ronaldo told reporters after the match. "I know hard work is blessed by God. It was a tough, dark week. But I kept going because I believe in work over football. It was heavy, but we came back." Portugal’s 5-0 victory included Ronaldo’s 10th World Cup goal, breaking a national record previously held by Eusébio. The striker has now scored in six consecutive World Cups, from 2006 to the current edition, surpassing Lionel Messi’s tally in five tournaments. Ronaldo’s brace also saw him become the first player ever to score in six different World Cups. Messi, who has 18 World Cup goals, remains the all-time top scorer but did not find the net at the 2010 edition.

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Bondscoach Roberto Martínez defended his captain amid a week of heavy criticism. "It was a very difficult week, with unfair criticism. Cristiano is an exemplary captain, an icon, and a role model for the team," Martínez said. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes echoed the sentiment: "He’s our biggest attacking threat. We know how important scoring is for him." Former Ballon d’Or winner Fabio Cannavaro, now Uzbekistan’s head coach, praised Ronaldo’s relentless movement. "You can’t give him a centimetre of space. If you do, you’re lost," Cannavaro said. Asked if he could have stopped Ronaldo in his prime, he added: "I stopped him often, but he still scored a lot. He’s still playing now. I congratulate him; he can play for a few more years, so why stop?" Ronaldo dismissed questions about Messi, who leads the World Cup scoring charts with five goals. "Next question," he snapped. "Messi doesn’t interest me."

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Off the pitch, partner Georgina Rodríguez celebrated the performance, sharing a photo of herself watching the opener in a Portugal shirt. She later posted images from a private jet, suggesting she may attend Portugal’s final group match against Colombia on Sunday. The Portuguese forward’s outburst followed a week of intense scrutiny after his goalless debut against DR Congo. His two goals in the 5-0 win marked a emphatic return to form.