KABUL (Pajhwok): Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six World Cup campaigns and silenced his critics with two goals as Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 in Houston on Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera.
The victory put Portugal on the verge of reaching the knockout stage and marked a strong response from the 41-year-old captain after recent criticism over his form and place in the team.
Ronaldo opened the scoring after six minutes, making World Cup history by scoring in six tournaments dating back to 2006. He celebrated with his trademark “SIU” celebration in front of 68,777 fans.
After Nuno Mendes made it 2-0, Ronaldo added his second goal six minutes before halftime with a composed finish, taking his World Cup tally to 10 goals — more than any other Portuguese player, including the legendary Eusebio.
The forward entered the match as the record holder for international men’s goals with 143 but had faced criticism after missing chances in Portugal’s opening 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Despite comparisons with stars such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane, Ronaldo has remained a key figure for Portugal, with coach Roberto Martinez continuing to back his captain.
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