Ronaldo's Goal Drought Extends to 10 Major Tournament Matches
Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old Portugal superstar, has not scored in his last 10 consecutive appearances at major tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship. He will look to break this barren run when Portugal takes on Uzbekistan in a pivotal FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match on Tuesday.
In Portugal's opening match of the tournament, a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, Ronaldo struggled to make an impact. He recorded only 25 touches, took three shots without hitting the target, and won just one duel, highlighting how effectively the DR Congo defense marked him. This performance marked one of the lowest involvement games of his World Cup career, with the second-fewest touches he has ever recorded in a World Cup start.
Statistical Contrast with Earlier Career
According to OptaJoe, Ronaldo has managed just one assist and zero goals for Portugal across his last 10 matches in major tournaments. This is a stark contrast to his first 43 matches for Portugal, where he scored 22 goals and provided eight assists. Overall, Ronaldo remains Portugal's all-time leading goal-scorer and appearance-maker, with 147 goals in 229 appearances.
Ruben Dias Dismisses Criticism as 'Noise'
Portugal defender Ruben Dias has downplayed the recent criticism directed at Ronaldo, describing it as mere "noise" that is part of football. Speaking after external chatter around the veteran forward, Dias said the team remains unaffected and focused on its objectives.
"It is not an issue for us," Dias insisted, as cited by One Football. "It is insignificant, just a bit of fuss and noise. It is all part of the game." He added, "First and foremost, the criticism isn't directed at just one player. Cristiano is a major focus of attention, but I think we are all in the firing line. Above all, apart from what I've just said, I do not think anything out of the ordinary is happening. It has always been like this since I have been here. I believe it will continue to be so in the future. In the end, it is noise. We isolate ourselves from it and focus on doing our thing."
Upcoming Clash Against Uzbekistan
Portugal's next match against Uzbekistan is crucial for their World Cup campaign. A win would strengthen their position in the group, while a loss could complicate their path to the knockout stages. Ronaldo's ability to rediscover his scoring form will be key to Portugal's success.
