Houston [US], June 24: Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at six World Cup tournaments on Tuesday when his brace helped Portugal to a thumping 5-0 triumph over debutants Uzbekistan.
Ronaldo, 41, reached the milestone in the sixth minute and struck again in the 39th.
Nuno Mendes converted a free-kick in-between in the 17th when Portugal fooled everyone because Ronaldo had been expected to execute it.
An own goal from Abdukodir Khusanov on the hour and substitute Rafael Leao in the 87th wrapped up matters for efficient Portugal who got five goals from eight attempts on target.
Portugal rebounded strongly from their opening 1-1 draw against Democratic Republic of Congo to go top in Group K for the time being.
They can be dethroned by Colombia who face Congo later in the day.
Uzbekistan are bottom with zero points.
Team comes first for CR7 "I'm very happy," Man of the Match Ronaldo said. "But for me, the most important thing is our work and the confidence we showed. The team performed really well and improved a lot. As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining.
"Obviously, speaking personally, records are always nice, but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives."
Ronaldo has 10 goals overall across the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 tournaments as he claimed the national tournament record from the legendary Eusebio who has nine.
At 41 years 138 days, Ronaldo is the second-oldest scorer in tournament history, with only Cameroon's Roger Milla ahead on 42 years 39 days.
Ronaldo was playing his 24th World Cup match and alongside Argentina captain Lionel Messi is playing at a record sixth World Cup.
Messi has a record 28 World Cup matches and set a goal record on Monday for now 18 in total since 2006. But Messi has not scored at all tournaments, drawing a blank in 2010.
Ronaldo's overall numbers are 145 goals from 230 caps, both world records, as he finally joined Messi (five goals), Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland (four each) and Harry Kane (two) on the superstar tournament scoresheet.
Portugal in general and Ronaldo in particular were criticised for their lacklustre opener against Congo and they started absolutely determined to make up for it on Tuesday.
Ronaldo just failed to properly connect with Nuno Mendes' cross before the superstar added another chapter of football history to his name in the 6th minute.
Ronaldo ran towards the near post to drill a sharp cross from the right by Joao Cancelo into the bottom corner with his right foot, setting off wild scenes culminating in his iconic Siuuu celebration move which large parts of the stadium joined.
Portugal had opened the scoring in the same minute against Congo but this time they didn't switch off and were 2-0 up after 17 minutes.
They won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and while everyone believed that Ronaldo would execute it, it was PSG defender Mendes instead who fired into the bottom left corner, with goalkeeper Abduvokhid Nematov not looking good.
Uzbekistan finally woke up and thought they had pulled one back from Azizbek Ganiev's sensational drive into the top corner but the goal was nullified upon review because of a foul in the build-up.
Portugal answered in the best possible way with a third goal in the 39th, Premier League assistant king Fernandes setting up Ronaldo perfectly to slot into the far left corner.
Second half Portugal had another free-kick trick up their sleeve when Fernandes chipped the ball over the wall to Ronaldo who was however beaten to the ball by Nematov in a collision which briefly floored Ronaldo.
But it was 4-0 on the ensuing corner kick when the ball bounced in off Manchester City's Khusanov and Nematov's arm. Leao wrapped up matters into the top corner five minutes after coming on.
"This was the response we had in the dressing room. There are times when you need a game like the first one in order to grow in the tournament," coach Roberto Martinez said.
"Today we saw a team with the same attitude and commitment, but with greater maturity because it was no longer the opening match. I'm very pleased with the result."
Source: Qatar Tribune
