Ronaldo fires to get Portugal’s World Cup campaign on track in Uzbekistan

For generations of Uzbek football fans, Cristiano Ronaldo was the dream. His shirts filled the bazaars of Tashkent and Samarkand, and his celebrations were imitated on every playground. On Tuesday, these supporters finally got the chance to see their own country face the man. For many in the stands it was a dream and a disappointment in one.

Ronaldo found his scoring boots, but the goals came against the country that had long celebrated him from afar. He scored twice in a 5-0 win for Portugal, who found the response they desperately needed through the man who, as always, remains the central character in every team he plays for.

Within the first five minutes, Ronaldo had come agonizingly close to breaking his drought. But he was a fraction too late when he met a teasing cross from Nuno Mendes.

However, the wait didn’t last long.

Portugal vs Uzbekistan | As it happened

In the sixth minute, Ronaldo finally found the target he was looking for. He reacted quickest to a Joao Cancelo cutback, darting ahead of his marker and grabbing the finish that put Portugal’s World Cup campaign back on track.

The release of tension was unmissable from the stands. Relief and defiance flashed across the veteran’s impassive face as he sprinted to the bench in celebration. With his arms outstretched, he hugged teammates and staff, a response aimed at his critics as well as the audience.

Mendes doubled Portugal’s lead shortly afterwards by smashing a free kick through a hole in the Uzbek barrier. It was a goal that would have left Fabio Cannavaro, the last defender to win the Ballon d’Or, unimpressed by the composition of his defensive wall.

Uzbekistan believed for a moment that it had found a way back. In the 29th minute, Aziz Ganiev unleashed a stunning strike from outside the penalty area to beat a sprawling Diogo Costa. But a VAR review ruled this out after referees spotted a foul on Cancelo in the build-up.

Ronaldo struck again in the 39th minute, starting the move with a trademark jump from Bruno Fernandes. The Manchester United midfielder spotted his captain’s run and rolled a precise through ball into space. Ronaldo, who remained a whisker to the side, calmly tucked his finish past Abduvohid Nematov to put Portugal firmly in command.

Portugal’s fourth arrived on the hour mark when Fernandes’ corner caused chaos in the six-yard box. Ronaldo’s shot near the post hit Abdukodir Khusanov and curled past Nematov for an own goal, adding to Uzbekistan’s misery. A one-touch finish from Rafa Leao, a minute before the end of regular time, added to the score.

The Uzbek faithful had finally met their hero, but the reunion brought more pain than joy.

Published on June 24, 2026