2026 World Cup: Ronaldo Breaks New Record With Goal Against Uzbekistan

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has set a new FIFA World Cup record after becoming the first player in history to score in six different editions of the tournament.

The 41-year-old achieved the milestone on Tuesday when he found the back of the net in Portugal’s Group K clash against Uzbekistan at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

Ronaldo opened the scoring for Portugal within the opening five minutes of the encounter, giving his side an early advantage and ending a lengthy goal drought in major international competitions.

The historic strike added another remarkable achievement to the veteran forward’s illustrious career, further cementing his status as one of football’s greatest players.

Before the match, Ronaldo had faced criticism from sections of supporters and football analysts following Portugal’s disappointing goalless draw against DR Congo in their opening group fixture.

Questions had also been raised about his form after failing to score in four consecutive matches for the Portuguese national team.

In addition, the forward had gone 10 straight appearances at major international tournaments without finding the net.

His previous goal at a major tournament came during Portugal’s opening match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Despite concerns over his recent performances, Ronaldo responded in emphatic fashion by breaking the deadlock against Uzbekistan and writing his name into football history once again.

The goal means Ronaldo has now scored in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, surpassing every player who has previously competed in the competition.

The Portuguese star first appeared at the World Cup in 2006 and has remained a key figure for his country across two decades of international football.

His latest achievement adds to a long list of records, including being Portugal’s all-time leading scorer and one of the highest goalscorers in international football history.

Football fans and commentators around the world have praised Ronaldo’s longevity, consistency and ability to continue performing at the highest level despite his age.

With Portugal still pursuing qualification for the knockout stage, Ronaldo will be hoping to add more goals to his tally as the tournament progresses and help guide his country to World Cup success.