Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in Portugal’s 5-0 World Cup win over Uzbekistan, becoming the first player to score in six editions of the tournament, and
Bruno Fernandes stressed how much the entire squad valued seeing Portugal’s captain on the scoresheet after debate around Ronaldo’s role.
Before facing Uzbekistan, a 1-1 draw with DR Congo on matchday one led to questions about Roberto Martinez’s decision to keep Ronaldo as the central striker, and some pundits even suggested Ronaldo’s status might unsettle Portugal’s dressing room, but Fernandes insisted the group remained united and delighted for the captain.
Ronaldo, now 41, has already found the net at the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and the two goals against Uzbekistan mean Ronaldo is the first player to score at six World Cups and has 10 World Cup goals, overtaking Eusebio’s Portugal record of nine, all scored in 1966.
Portugal’s all-time leading scorer opened the scoring with a powerful right-foot volley at the near post, then Portugal extended control when Nuno Mendes curled a free-kick into the top corner after Ronaldo distracted defenders with a decoy run, and Ronaldo later slid in a composed finish across goal for Portugal’s third, before an Abduvohid Nematov own goal and a fierce strike from substitute Rafael Leao finished the 5-0 victory in the second half.
Ronaldo chased a hat-trick throughout the match and took seven shots, more than twice as many as any other player on the pitch, while Ronaldo also led the game for expected goals with 1.6 xG, registered 10 touches inside the Uzbekistan penalty area and produced five big chances, all team-high numbers that underlined how central Ronaldo remained to Portugal’s attack.
| Metric | Cristiano Ronaldo | Match ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 7 | Most in match |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.6 | Highest value |
| Touches in opposition area | 10 | Most in match |
| Big chances | 5 | Most in match |
Fernandes played a direct role in Ronaldo’s second goal, driving forward from midfield with the ball before threading a precise through-ball behind the defence for Ronaldo to meet, and Fernandes also created another second-half opening for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, although those two passes were the only clear chances Fernandes produced.
Asked about Ronaldo’s brace, Fernandes underlined how much the group valued the moment, saying: "It was important for our captain to score," Fernandes said of Ronaldo. "It was important for us that he scored. He’s our go-to player in attack. We’re very happy for him. "
The Manchester United midfielder, who broke the Premier League single-season assist record in 2025-26 with 21 assists, welcomed adding another goal involvement at international level and expressed confidence that the goals for Fernandes personally would follow as the World Cup schedule continues.
Reflecting on his role for Portugal, Fernandes said: "It’s always special to get an assist with the national team, especially at the World Cup, which is a special tournament," Fernandes added. "What matters is that Portugal scores, whether it’s me or not. We managed to score a lot of goals, and we’re happy about that. I’m here to set up my team-mates up, that’s part of my game, regardless of whether I score or not. I believe my moment will come, and that it will be at a time when it’s truly needed. "
The 5-0 victory, combined with Ronaldo’s historic scoring record and Fernandes’ creative influence, strengthened Portugal’s position in the tournament, lifted confidence after the earlier draw with DR Congo and suggested Martinez’s side, built around Ronaldo in attack, remained fully aligned behind the captain heading into the later World Cup matches.
