June 23, 2026

Ronaldo Sets Record by Scoring in Six World Cups

In a historic feat, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments. On Tuesday, during Portugal’s match against Uzbekistan, the 41-year-old scored two goals.

The first goal came in the sixth minute when João Cancelo provided an assist, allowing Ronaldo to strike with his right foot, leading to a 1-0 advantage. His celebration included jubilant moments with teammates.

Ronaldo doubled his tally in the 39th minute with Bruno Fernandes assisting, as he found the net just inside the near post, pushing Portugal to a 3-0 lead. This achievement places him as the second-oldest player to score in a World Cup, following Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who scored at age 42 in 1994.

Before this match, Ronaldo faced criticism for not scoring in Portugal’s 1-1 draw against Congo. Both Ronaldo and Lionel Messi share the distinction of appearing in six World Cup tournaments this year. Ronaldo, however, stands alone in scoring in each one, since Messi did not score at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Ronaldo now has 10 career World Cup goals. Messi leads with 18, bolstered by a recent hat trick against Algeria and additional goals against Austria, making him the all-time leading scorer in tournament history.

Tuesday’s game marks Ronaldo’s 230th international appearance, the most ever recorded. While this is likely his last World Cup, Ronaldo’s achievements include winning the European Championship in 2016 and the Champions League five times with Manchester United and Real Madrid.

For more on the World Cup, visit the AP World Cup site.

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