Ronaldo Makes World Cup History With Goals at Six Tournaments
At 41, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player ever to score across six different FIFA World Cups after netting twice in a 5-0 rout of Uzbekistan.
Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name into World Cup history on Tuesday when he found the net for Portugal against Uzbekistan in Houston, becoming the first male footballer to score in six separate World Cup tournaments. The 41-year-old Portuguese captain's achievement represents a remarkable longevity record spanning nearly two decades of international competition.
Ronaldo struck twice during Portugal's dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, with goals in the 6th and 39th minutes. His brace elevated his career World Cup tally to 10 goals, placing him among the top 10 all-time World Cup scorers in history.
The result moved Portugal closer to securing a knockout stage berth in the tournament. The performance came after extended criticism of Ronaldo's recent form in major competitions.
Prior to the Uzbekistan match, the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus star had endured a 10-game stretch without scoring in significant international tournaments. His breakthrough against Uzbekistan provided a decisive answer to doubters questioning his continued effectiveness at the highest level.
Ronaldo now trails only Lionel Messi among active players in World Cup goal scoring. Messi leads with 18 World Cup goals, while Kylian Mbappé of France sits second among current competitors with 16.
Ronaldo's 10 goals surpass the previous Portuguese record of 9 set by Eusébio. Among all-time World Cup scorers, Messi remains the leader, having also appeared in six World Cup tournaments.
Sources
- Punch Newspapers — Portugal’s Ronaldo first man to score at six World Cups
- Punch Newspapers — Ronaldo joins top 10 all-time W’Cup goal scorers, Messi, Mbappe lead
- Punch Newspapers — Ronaldo nets brace at sixth World Cup as Portugal thrash Uzbekistan 5-0
