Cristiano Ronaldo made World Cup history on Tuesday by becoming the first player ever to score in six different editions of the tournament.
The Portugal captain found the net in the sixth minute of his side’s clash with Uzbekistan.
The 41-year-old reached the milestone when João Cancelo delivered a cross that Ronaldo converted with a right-footed finish to give Portugal a 1-0 lead. He then celebrated the landmark goal with his teammates near the bench.
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Ronaldo added a second goal in the 39th minute after receiving a pass from Bruno Fernandes and calmly finishing with his right foot inside the near post, extending Portugal’s advantage to 3-0.
With those goals, Ronaldo also became the second-oldest player to score at a FIFA World Cup. Only Cameroon legend Roger Milla, who scored at the age of 42 during the 1994 World Cup in the United States, ranks ahead of him.
The Portuguese star’s response was particularly significant after criticism following his goalless performance in Portugal’s 1-1 draw against Congo in their opening match of the tournament.
Earlier this year, Ronaldo and Argentina captain Lionel Messi became the first male players to appear in six World Cup tournaments.
Ronaldo’s scoring run began at his first World Cup in 2006 and continued with goals in the 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026 editions.
Although Messi shares the record for the most World Cup appearances, Ronaldo stands alone as the only player to score in every tournament he has played. Messi failed to score during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Ronaldo’s strikes against Uzbekistan took his overall World Cup tally to nine goals. Meanwhile, Messi has increased his total to 18 after scoring a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening match and adding two more goals in a victory over Austria, making him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
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Tuesday’s match also marked Ronaldo’s 230th international appearance, further extending his record as the most-capped player in football history.
The 2026 World Cup is widely expected to be Ronaldo’s final appearance on football’s biggest stage. Throughout his remarkable career, he has won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy five times during spells with Manchester United and Real Madrid.