Qatar: Cristiano Ronaldo added another remarkable chapter to his legendary career by becoming the first footballer to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments during Portugal’s Group K match against Uzbekistan.
The Portuguese captain struck in the sixth minute, calmly finishing a cross from João Cancelo with his right foot to give Portugal an early lead.
After finding the net, the 41-year-old sprinted toward the bench to celebrate the historic moment with his teammates.
The goal came at an important time for Ronaldo, who had come under scrutiny after failing to score in Portugal’s 1-1 draw against Congo in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Earlier this year, Ronaldo and Argentina captain Lionel Messi became the first male footballers to feature in six FIFA World Cup tournaments. However, Ronaldo has now separated himself from the Argentine great by becoming the only player to score in every one of those six editions.
His World Cup scoring record began in Germany in 2006 and continued in the 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and now 2026 tournaments. Messi, despite matching Ronaldo’s six World Cup appearances, did not score during the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
Cristiano Ronaldo: The first man to score at six #FIFAWorldCup tournaments pic.twitter.com/i6IxCcXl8o
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 23, 2026
Ronaldo’s latest strike took his overall FIFA World Cup tally to nine goals, further strengthening his place among the competition’s most enduring performers.
Messi, meanwhile, remains the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 18 World Cup goals. The Argentina captain opened his 2026 campaign with a hat-trick against Algeria before scoring twice against Austria to extend his record.
The latest fixture also marked another significant milestone for Ronaldo, who made his 230th appearance for Portugal. The achievement extended his own record as the most-capped player in the history of men’s international football.
Now, in what is widely expected to be his final FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo continues to add to a career that has already placed him among the game’s greatest players.
Beyond his World Cup achievements, he captained Portugal to the UEFA European Championship title in 2016 and lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy five times during his celebrated club career with Manchester United and Real Madrid.
