Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name into football history once again on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, by becoming the first male player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments. The 41-year-old Portugal captain achieved the milestone in Houston during his nation's Group K clash against Uzbekistan.
Record-Breaking Goal in Sixth Minute
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the sixth minute, finishing a cross from João Cancelo. This was his ninth World Cup goal since his tournament debut in 2006 and his 144th overall for Portugal. He later added a second goal in the 39th minute, sealing a memorable performance.
Six World Cups, Nine Goals
The goals mean Ronaldo is the first player to score in six World Cup editions: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026. He also became the second-oldest scorer in World Cup history at 41 years and 138 days, trailing only Roger Milla, who scored for Cameroon against Russia in 1994 at 42 years and 39 days.
Portugal's Dominant Display
Ronaldo's teammates Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao also found the net, while Uzbekistan conceded an own goal in a convincing performance by Roberto Martinez's side. This came after a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo the previous week. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is aiming to win his first World Cup trophy this year, adding to his UEFA European Championship winner's medal from 2016.
