HOUSTON, June 23 – Portugal vs Uzbekistan was a headline fixture in Group K. (Penang, June 24) Portugal’s second group-stage outing at the 2026 World Cup ended in a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, with Cristiano Ronaldo stealing the headlines by scoring twice and surpassing Eusébio to become Portugal’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup.
Ronaldo broke the deadlock in the sixth minute, meeting Cancelo’s low delivery at the near post and finishing cleanly to put Portugal ahead. The strike carried historical weight well beyond the scoreline — it meant Ronaldo had now found the net in six successive World Cup tournaments, a record no male player had previously achieved and one that speaks volumes about his enduring ability at the highest level of international football.
History Made at NRG Stadium
Nuno Mendes doubled Portugal’s lead in the 17th minute with a direct free kick that gave the Uzbekistan goalkeeper no chance. It was a composed and technically precise effort from the left-back, who stepped up with confidence and delivered when his team needed him to.
Uzbekistan had their spirits briefly lifted in the 30th minute when Ganiyev scored after a successful high press, but the celebrations were cut short by a VAR review that revealed a foul in the build-up, leaving the goal chalked off and the score unchanged at 2-0.
The highlight of the match arrived in the 39th minute when Ronaldo completed his brace. Bruno Fernandes threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the area, and Ronaldo finished from a narrow angle to make it 3-0 at the break, while simultaneously surpassing Eusébio’s World Cup tally — an emotional and historic moment for Portuguese football.
The second half yielded two more goals, first when an own goal from Nematov extended the margin to 4-0 in the 60th minute, and then when substitute Leão added a fifth late on to seal an emphatic 5-0 win. Portugal sit comfortably atop Group K and look every inch a serious contender at this World Cup.
