Ronaldo Sets Record by Scoring in Six World Cups

On Tuesday, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to find the net in six different World Cup tournaments. He scored two goals in Portugal’s match against Uzbekistan.

At 41, Ronaldo made his mark in the sixth minute. João Cancelo delivered a cross, and Ronaldo capitalized by shooting with his right foot, putting Portugal ahead 1-0. Celebrating with teammates, he savored the milestone.

Ronaldo’s second goal came in the 39th minute. Bruno Fernandes provided an assist, and Ronaldo finished with precision, sending the ball inside the near post for a 3-0 lead.

These achievements make Ronaldo the second-oldest player to score at a World Cup, following Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who was 42 when he scored in 1994.

Ronaldo faced criticism after not scoring during Portugal’s 1-1 draw with Congo in their opening match. He joined Argentina’s Lionel Messi as the only men to play in six World Cup tournaments this year. His scoring runs began in 2006, with goals in subsequent tournaments in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.

Although both players have appeared in six editions, Ronaldo alone scored in each one, as Messi did not score during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Ronaldo now boasts 10 goals in World Cup history. Meanwhile, Messi has 18, with a recent hat trick against Algeria and two goals against Austria, making him the tournament’s all-time top scorer.

Tuesday marked Ronaldo’s 230th international appearance, the highest on record. This World Cup likely marks the last for Ronaldo, who has previously won the European Championship with Portugal and the Champions League with Manchester United and Real Madrid.