06/23/26 04:46:00
Printable Page
06/23 16:45 CDT Ronaldo becomes first player to score in six World Cups with
two goals against Uzbekistan
Ronaldo becomes first player to score in six World Cups with two goals against
Uzbekistan
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) --- Cristiano Ronaldo had a simple but strong message as the final
whistle sounded after Portugal's big win at the World Cup on Tuesday.
"I'm back," he said directly into the television camera. "I'm back."
Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments
by getting two goals in Portugal's 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, quieting critics
after his forgettable performance in the team's 1-1 draw with Congo in the
opener.
Even though criticism isn't anything new to the 41-year-old superstar, he
admitted that the intense negativity directed toward him this week was
difficult.
"But it's always like that," he said in Portuguese. "It doesn't matter, because
it's been 23 years on the job and when things go well, 'Cristiano is good,'
when things go bad, ?Cristiano is a retired player, is old.' It will always be
like that. But we responded well today, me and my teammates, which is what we
wanted."
Ronaldo made history in the sixth minute when Joao Cancelo crossed the ball to
him and he shot with his right foot to make it 1-0. He ran toward the bench and
celebrated with his teammates.
He added another in the 39th minute when he got a pass from Bruno Fernandes and
scored with his right foot just inside the near post to make it 3-0.
"As a defender you need to be ready and you need to be close to him in the
box," said Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro, a standout defender in his playing
days who led Italy to the 2006 World Cup title. "If you give him one centimeter
in the box you are dead."
Ronaldo was named man of the match for his performance, the latest of many in
his incredible career.
Portugal coach Roberto Martnez raved about the professionalism and poise
Ronaldo showed this week amid calls from outsiders to bench him.
"He's a human being," Martnez said. "He's allowed to have emotions. He's
allowed to have feelings. What is impressive with him is the answer. Whatever
he feels, the answer is to get back on the training ground and practice and
work and demand from himself. That professionalism is what's (led) to the
longevity."
The goals on Tuesday make him the second-oldest player to score at a World Cup
behind Cameroon forward Roger Milla, who was 42 when he scored at the 1994
tournament in the United States.
Ronaldo and Argentina captain Lionel Messi became the only men in history to
play in six World Cup tournaments this year. Ronaldo's scoring streak started
in his debut in 2006 and he also netted goals in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
While he shares the record for most tournaments with Messi, he stands alone in
scoring a goal in each edition after Messi failed to score at the 2010 World
Cup in South Africa.
Ronaldo's two strikes against Uzbekistan gave him 10 career goals in the
tournament. Messi has 18 after a hat trick in Argentina's opener against
Algeria and two more goals Monday against Austria that made him the all-time
leading scorer in tournament history.
Ronaldo's latest performance extended his record by giving him 145
international goals, and his 10 career goals in the World Cup moved him past
Eusbio's nine to make him Portugal's all-time scoring leader at the tournament.
Tuesday's game was the 230th of Ronaldo's international career, which is the
most in history.
This is likely to be the final World Cup for Ronaldo, who won the European
Championship with Portugal in 2016 and the Champions League five times with
Manchester United and Real Madrid.
___
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
|
