Cristiano Ronaldo expressed satisfaction with Portugal’s performance after their 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in their second FIFA World Cup 2026 match at Houston Stadium on January 31. The Portuguese captain, who set multiple records during the game, including becoming Portugal’s all-time leading World Cup scorer and the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, emphasised that his primary focus is to help the team succeed.
Ronaldo scored twice as Nuno Mendes, Rafael Leao, and an own goal by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov contributed to Portugal’s commanding win. This marked Portugal’s first victory of the tournament under coach Roberto Martinez, following a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening group-stage match.
Reflecting on the performance, Ronaldo said, “The team performed really well and improved a lot. As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Obviously, speaking personally, records are always nice but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives.”
The result brought Portugal’s World Cup campaign back on track and significantly improved their goal difference ahead of their final group fixture. It also represented a strong turnaround for Ronaldo, who had struggled to influence the first match.
By scoring twice, Ronaldo reached new milestones: becoming Portugal’s leading World Cup scorer with 10 goals, surpassing Eusebio’s record of nine, and becoming the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments.
Coach Roberto Martinez highlighted the team’s improvement, saying, “This was the response we had in the dressing room. There are times when you need a game like the first one in order to grow in the tournament. Today we saw a team with the same attitude and commitment, but with greater maturity because it was no longer the opening match.” He praised the team’s decision-making and finishing, as well as their attitude and commitment.