Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics for the moment with a first-half brace during Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan during Tuesday’s World Cup action.
There was talk following Portugal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo that perhaps manager Roberto Martínez should bench Ronaldo. That talk was quickly put to bed when the 41-year-old made history after opening the scoring in the sixth minute to become the first man to score in six World Cups.
At 41 years and 138 days, Ronaldo is also now the second-oldest player to ever score in a World Cup and one of two players aged 40 or older to find the back of the net in the competition joining Cameroon’s Roger Milla (1994 — 42 years, 39 days). He’s also the oldest player to record a multi-goal game in a men’s World Cup, surpassing the mark Lionel Messi set against Algeria and then extended against Austria on Monday.
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Ronaldo had an opportunity for his second of the match in the 14th minute when Portugal was awarded a free kick just outside of the Uzbekistan penalty box. With everyone in the building thinking Ronaldo was going to take it, Nuno Mendes stepped up and curled a left-footed shot around the wall to make it 2-0.
Ronaldo would get his brace before halftime. A counter attack saw Bruno Fernandes feed a through ball between the Uzbekistan defense and find Ronaldo, who would net his 10th career World Cup goal, breaking a tie with Eusébio to become Portugal’s all-time leading goal scorer in the competition.
Ronaldo’s two goals stand as the 144th and 145th of his international career, a record he holds by 23 over Messi.
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Portugal would strike for a fourth time via an own goal in the 60th minute. Rafael Leão made it 5-0 in the 87th minute, putting home a loose ball in the Uzbekistan box.
The victory moves Portugal to the top of Group K, one point ahead of Colombia, which plays Tuesday night against DR Congo. Martínez’s squad will face Colombia in the group-stage finale on Saturday night in Miami.
