Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal reaffirmed their World Cup credentials with a rousing 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan.
Ronaldo, the first player to score at six different World Cups, had been under huge scrutiny after a flat display in Portugal’s opener, labouring to a shock 1-1 draw with DR Congo.
But the response was emphatic, not least from the Portugal captain, whose first-half double takes his personal tally at World Cups to 10. Roberto Martinez’s decision to start him against a backdrop of fierce criticism more than vindicated.
The man with 975 career goals shows no signs of slowing down. At 41, he is now his nation’s outright top scorer at World Cups, while also standing alone in the number of tournaments he has found the net at. Not even Lionel Messi can boast six.
Ronaldo congratulates Nuno Mendes after he scored a superb free-kick
The No 7 made history in the sixth minute when latching onto Joao Cancelo’s deft cross to plant beyond Abduvohid Nematov. He charged towards the bench to celebrate in a demonstration of togetherness immediately after. This latest chapter, apparently, is more than just the Ronaldo show.
His second strike, which came after Nuno Mendes made it 2-0 with a smart free-kick, might even be enough to reignite the age-old debate over the game’s greatest player. A veering towards Messi was inevitable after his inspiring start to this tournament, scoring five times for Argentina, but the discussion continues to be open-ended.
Ronaldo bent his run meticulously to meet a perfectly-weighted through ball from Bruno Fernandes for Portugal’s third, firing accurately across Nematov. No doubt he remains Martinez’s main man. “He is the man,” said Roy Keane on ITV’s coverage.
By comparison, the second period drifted. Nematov conceded an own goal from a clever Portugal set-piece routine, Rafael Leao hammered a late fifth, and Ronaldo had more than one chance to complete his treble. He wasted those. But he has arrived at this tournament, of that there is no doubt.
Keane: Desire to score sets Ronaldo apart
Roy Keane speaking on ITV:
“What you have to admire about Ronaldo is the hunger, the desire. Desperate to get more goals.
“That’s what the great example to his team is. He keeps trying to get goals. He has shown his sharpness.
“I love watching this. At the highest level, it’s about one-touch finishing. His body position is always right.”
The key moments from Houston…
6: GOAL! Ronaldo steers Cancelo’s low cross beyond the clutches of Nematov.
17: GOAL! Nuno Mendes uses Ronaldo as a decoy to strike perfect free-kick into the far corner.
29: VAR! Aziz Ganiev is denied a stunning goal after VAR spotted a foul in the build-up.
39: GOAL! Ronaldo latches onto an incisive Fernandes pass to score Portgual’s third.
60: GOAL! Nematov scores own goal from a corner after the ball rebounds awkwardly off Abdukodir Khusanov.
87: GOAL! Rafael Leao extended Portugal’s lead by lashing a late fifth into the top corner.
