Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Portugal’s 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan on Tuesday in Houston.
The Al-Nassar forward gave Portugal the lead in the six minute when he converted Joao Cancelo’s low cross from the right.
The goal made Ronaldo the only player to score in six different World Cups.
The former Real Madrid man scored his second of the game in the 39th minute when he placed the ball beyond the Uzbekistan goalkeeper after a brilliant pass from Bruno Fernandes.
Nuno Mendez scored a beautiful free-kick in the 17th-minute in-between Ronaldo’s goals. Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduluvohid Nematov fumbled the ball into his own net for the fourth, and Rafeal Leao made it fifth for Portugal in the 87th Minute.
The goals took Ronaldo’s overall World Cup goals to 10, overtaken Eusebio as the Portuguese player with most World Cup goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo was heared screaming “I am back. “I am back” into the camera in response to critics after he failed to score in Portugal’s opening World Cup game against DR Congo.
Speaking to reporters after the game Cristiano Ronaldo said it was a difficult week after the DR Congo game.
“ It was a difficult and dark week, it felt like I had already retired from football but I held on as I always do, because I believe in work and hard work more than anything else. It was tough, I have to admit that, but we are back.”
With four points, Portugal will take on Columbia on Saturday to confirm their place in the round of 32.
Reuters/NAN
