PORTLAND, USA – Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in football history to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments after netting twice in Portugal’s match against Uzbekistan on Tuesday.
The 41-year-old forward opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he converted a cross from João Cancelo with a right-footed finish, giving Portugal an early lead. Ronaldo celebrated the historic goal with his teammates on the sidelines as fans applauded the latest milestone in his legendary career.
Ronaldo and Argentina captain Lionel Messi became the first players to appear in six World Cup tournaments when they featured in the 2026 competition. However, Ronaldo now stands alone as the only player to score in all six editions.
His World Cup scoring journey began at the 2006 tournament and continued in 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026. Messi, who has also played in six World Cups, did not score during the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
Ronaldo added his second goal of the match in the 39th minute after receiving a pass from Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese star calmly finished with his right foot inside the near post to extend Portugal’s lead to 3-0.
The goals also saw Ronaldo become the second-oldest player ever 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, was older.
The historic performance came after Ronaldo faced criticism for failing to find the net in Portugal’s opening Group J match, a 1-1 draw against Congo.
With his latest achievement, Ronaldo has once again reinforced his place among football’s greatest players, adding another remarkable record to a career already filled with historic milestones.
Portugal will now look to build on the victory as they continue their quest for a deep run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
