FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated Cristiano Ronaldo after he became Portugal's all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing the legendary Eusebio. Ronaldo achieved the milestone by scoring a brace in Portugal's 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in their Group K match at Houston Stadium on Tuesday.
Ronaldo's Historic Achievement
Infantino also acknowledged Ronaldo as the first player in history to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments. In a video posted on Instagram, Infantino said, "Wow, @cristiano! With his brace against Uzbekistan, the Portugal captain is now the only player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments and also his country's all-time top scorer in @fifaworldcup history, moving past the legendary Eusebio. Many, many congratulations."
Match Performance
Ronaldo led Portugal's charge with two goals, while Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao also found the net. An own goal by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov further compounded the misery for Fabio Cannavaro's side. Roberto Martinez's men secured their first win of the tournament in emphatic fashion.
Ronaldo's brace took his World Cup tally to 10 goals, surpassing Eusebio's record of nine. Eusebio, a Portugal legend and 1965 Ballon d'Or winner, famously guided the team to third place at the 1966 World Cup. Pauleta is third on Portugal's World Cup scoring list with four goals.
Turning Point for Portugal
Portugal's result came as a strong response after they were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opening group-stage encounter. The victory helped Portugal get their World Cup campaign back on track and significantly boosted their goal difference ahead of the final group fixture. The win also marked an important turnaround for Ronaldo following a difficult outing against DR Congo, where the veteran forward struggled to influence proceedings.
Match Summary
Portugal produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Uzbekistan, taking control early with Ronaldo opening the scoring in the 6th minute. Nuno Mendes added a stunning free-kick, and Ronaldo struck again to make it 3-0 before half-time. After the break, Uzbekistan rarely threatened, with Portugal continuing to dominate possession and extending their lead in the 60th minute through an own goal following a Joao Felix flick from a Bruno Fernandes corner. Substitute Rafael Leao added a fifth goal late on to complete a comprehensive 5-0 victory.
The win earned Portugal three important points and strengthened their position in the group, while also boosting their goal difference ahead of the final group match.
