Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal of the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, striking in the sixth minute against Uzbekistan in the second round of the group stage and becoming the first player in history to score in six different World Cups.
The Portugal captain entered the match at NRG Stadium in Houston under pressure after his team opened the tournament with a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo. Portugal, one of the leading contenders to win the tournament, needed a victory to strengthen its position in the race for first place in the group.
(Photo: REUTERS/Phil Noble)
Ronaldo’s early goal added another milestone to a career already defined by World Cup longevity. He had previously scored in the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments, and his goal against Uzbekistan extended that run into a sixth edition — an unprecedented achievement in men’s football.
Uzbekistan, making its World Cup debut, arrived after a 3-1 defeat to Colombia but still had hopes of staying alive in the expanded tournament format. Before its current run of three straight losses, the Asian side had lost only once in 18 matches, with 12 wins and five draws.
The match was the first ever meeting between Portugal and Uzbekistan. It also carried an unusual subplot on the Uzbek bench: coach Fabio Cannavaro beat Portugal in all three of his meetings against them as a player.