Ronaldo’s Brace Powers Portugal Past Uzbekistan as Record Falls in World Cup Rout

Portugal rolled past Uzbekistan 5-0 on Tuesday in Houston, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice to lead the Group K victory and become the first men’s player to score in six different World Cups. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the seventh minute and added another before halftime, while Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leão also found the net. Uzbekistan’s difficult night was compounded by an own goal from defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

Portugal controlled the match from the opening whistle after a flat 1-1 draw against DR Congo in its opener. The key stretch came in the first half when Ronaldo’s early finish settled the side before Mendes doubled the lead on a set-piece routine. Uzbekistan briefly thought it had cut the deficit through Aziz Ganiev, but VAR overturned the goal for a foul in the buildup, ending its best chance to shift momentum.

Ronaldo’s return to form became the central storyline after a 10-match drought in major tournaments. After the match, he told reporters, “I’m back,” following his first World Cup goals since Qatar 2022. Portugal manager Roberto Martínez praised the veteran’s impact but no extended official postmatch transcript was immediately available.

Portugal closes Group K play against Colombia on Friday in Miami with first place in the group still at stake. Uzbekistan, now on the brink of elimination after consecutive losses, faces DR Congo in Atlanta and will need a result plus help elsewhere to have any chance of advancing.