Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates scoring against Uzbekistan.
For two weeks, Cristiano Ronaldo watched the 2026 FIFA World Cup being dominated by superstars from other countries.
Whilst Lionel Messi was pulling Argentina forward with trademark authority and the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland surged to the top of the scoring charts, the conversation naturally turned to his form after Portugal's disappointing 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opener.
Intense questions hovered over Ronaldo. At 41, every single performance is examined ruthlessly through the lens of time, and critics openly wondered whether Portugal’s captain could still impose himself on football’s grandest stage.
Against Uzbekistan, Ronaldo responded in the only language he has consistently trusted throughout his career — records.
