Still a team player: Cristiano Ronaldo suppresses critics with support for Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

There were no more goals scored in international football for almost a year.

By Cristiano Ronaldo standards, that absence felt almost unnatural. His last international goal came on October 14, 2025, against Hungary, and after a sub-par performance in Portugal’s opening World Cup match against DR Congo, the critics circled.

Thierry Henry used his platform on Fox Sports to make a sharp observation. «One thing is important, people, please, at home: the team must score, not you must score.»

Ronaldo gave his answer on Tuesday.

The 41-year-old scored twice as Portugal defeated Uzbekistan to end a long-running drought. At 41 years and 138 days, Ronaldo also became the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, one place behind Roger Milla, who had scored against Russia in the 1994 World Cup when he was 42 years and 39 days old.

He is now also the oldest player to score more than one goal in a Men’s World Cup match, surpassing the mark set by his old rival Lionel Messi against Algeria and then going further with his double against Austria.

«I’m very happy. But for me the most important thing is our work and the confidence we showed,» Ronaldo said, perhaps sending a message to opponents who had questioned his adaptability as a teamman.

«The team has performed very well and improved a lot. As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Personally, records are of course always nice, but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its goals.»

That response reflects a player increasingly understanding his place in the final chapter of a remarkable career. Ronaldo no longer needs to prove he can score goals. He did exactly that for over twenty years.

Now he aims for one last meaningful run with Portugal at this World Cup.

Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro, who played against Ronaldo, did not think the criticism was justified against a player of Ronaldo’s caliber.

«Many think he is wasting his time playing in Asia. But when you come to a World Cup at the age of 41 and show how he played, it shows that he is still hungry. Football is not just Europe anymore, it is open to the whole horizon,» said the Italian World Cup winner. “When you play against Ronaldo you can’t leave anything (to chance), even if you leave even an inch, he scores and you’re dead.”

Roberto Martinez, the Portuguese coach, also came to his captain’s defense.

«Our captain is an icon and he is a role model who works hard for the Portuguese team, both on the field and in the dressing room. And it is not only the goals he scores, but also what he creates, the passes he makes. And he is already preparing for the next match,» Martinez said.

After months of questions and research, the evening provided confirmation that even at the age of 41, Ronaldo is still capable of deciding the biggest events.

Published on June 24, 2026