This Tuesday, Cristiano Ronaldo carved his name into the annals of soccer history, becoming the first player ever to score in six distinct World Cup tournaments. The Portuguese superstar achieved this milestone with a brace during the Portugal vs. Uzbekistan match at the 2026 World Cup, held at the NRG Stadium in Houston.
At 41, the Portuguese captain kicked off the scoring in the sixth minute with a deft shot from inside the box, courtesy of a cross by Joao Cancelo. He netted again in the 39th minute, securing a 3-0 lead before halftime and completing his historic double.
These two goals extended Ronaldo’s record of scoring in World Cup editions spanning 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026—a remarkable 20-year streak unmatched by any other player.
Prior to this feat, Ronaldo shared the record with Lionel Messi for scoring in five World Cups. However, Messi did not score in South Africa 2010, giving Ronaldo the edge in this specific achievement.
The brace also brought Ronaldo's World Cup goal tally to 10, surpassing the nine goals of legend Eusébio from the 1966 England World Cup—a record that stood for six decades.
With this achievement, CR7 became Portugal's all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, dethroning the "Black Panther," a seemingly unassailable title.
Additionally, Ronaldo set the record for being the oldest player to score a brace in World Cup history, and for having the longest span between his first and last World Cup goals: exactly 20 years since his debut goal in Germany 2006.
His goal also brought his career official tally to 975 goals, maintaining his status as the highest scorer in soccer history.
The match context added pressure to the moment: Portugal entered with just one point after a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opener, and Ronaldo was on a ten-match goalless streak across World Cups and Euros.
The response? A resounding 5-0 victory for Portugal, with additional goals from Nuno Mendes in the 17th minute, an own goal by Nematov in the 60th, and a strike from Rafael Leão in the 87th minute. Portugal dominated with 67% possession and 15 shots, eight on target.
The win propelled the Portuguese team to the top of Group K with four points, while Uzbekistan, a World Cup debutant led by Italian coach Fabio Cannavaro, remained scoreless.
The generational rivalry with Messi continues on another front: the Argentine became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 17 goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose. While Ronaldo doesn't aim to match that with his 10 World Cup goals, he holds a singular record Messi cannot: scoring in six different World Cup editions.
Portugal’s next match is set for June 27 against Colombia at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, with the team on the brink of advancing to the knockout stages. Ronaldo remains as determined as ever in pursuit of the one major title missing from his collection: the World Cup.
Ronaldo's Historic World Cup Feat
How many World Cups has Cristiano Ronaldo scored in?
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in six different World Cup tournaments, a record unmatched by any other player.
What record did Ronaldo break with his brace against Uzbekistan?
Ronaldo broke multiple records, including becoming Portugal's all-time leading World Cup scorer and the oldest player to score a brace in World Cup history.
How did Portugal perform in their match against Uzbekistan?
Portugal won decisively with a 5-0 victory, maintaining 67% possession and having 15 shots, eight of which were on target.