On Tuesday, Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record by scoring in six different World Cup tournaments during Portugal’s match against Uzbekistan. At 41 years old, Ronaldo achieved this milestone in the sixth minute when João Cancelo assisted him, allowing him to score with his right foot, putting Portugal ahead 1-0. Ronaldo celebrated the goal with his teammates on the bench.
Ronaldo scored again in the 39th minute with a pass from Bruno Fernandes. He found the net with his right foot, placing the ball just inside the near post, extending Portugal’s lead to 3-0. These goals make Ronaldo the second-oldest scorer in World Cup history, following Cameroon forward Roger Milla, who was 42 during his 1994 goal in the United States.
Although Ronaldo faced criticism for not scoring in Portugal’s 1-1 draw against Congo in their opening match, he and Argentina’s Lionel Messi marked a historical moment by becoming the first men to play in six World Cup tournaments. Ronaldo’s scoring streak began in 2006 and spanned through the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments as well.
While Messi shares the most tournament appearances, Ronaldo stands uniquely as the only player to score in each of his World Cup outings, contrasting with Messi, who did not score in the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Ronaldo’s goals on Tuesday brought his World Cup career total to 10. In contrast, Messi leads with 18 World Cup goals, courtesy of a hat trick against Algeria and two additional goals against Austria, making him the all-time top scorer.
Tuesday’s match also marked Ronaldo’s 230th international appearance, setting a new record. This World Cup is likely the last for Ronaldo, who previously celebrated winning the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and achieved five Champions League titles with Manchester United and Real Madrid.
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