Cristiano Ronaldo added another chapter to his remarkable career by becoming the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cups as Portugal thrashed Uzbekistan 5-0 for their first win of the 2026 tournament on June 23.
The 41-year-old striker scored twice to set multiple records. Ronaldo became the oldest player to score more than once in a World Cup match at 41 years and 138 days, surpassing the mark set earlier in the tournament by Lionel Messi. He also moved past Eusebio to become Portugal’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with 10 goals.
Ronaldo’s latest appearance was his 24th at the World Cup, behind only Messi (28) and Lothar Matthäus (25). The Portuguese captain has now scored against 49 different national teams in international football.
Portugal’s victory also saw Nuno Mendes become only the second Portuguese player to score directly from a free kick at a World Cup, following Ronaldo’s famous strike against Spain in 2018.
Elsewhere, England were frustrated in a 0-0 draw against Ghana despite dominating possession. Thomas Tuchel’s side saw their 12-match competitive winning streak end and recorded 79% possession, the highest by any team that failed to score in a World Cup match over the past 60 years.
England completed 93% of their passes and registered 430 passes in the opposition half, both among their best World Cup records. Defender Marc Guéhi completed 125 passes, the most by an England player in a World Cup game since records began in 1966.
Ghana, meanwhile, avoided defeat in their opening two matches of a World Cup campaign for the first time since their run to the quarterfinals in 2010.
Croatia edged Panama 1-0, with veteran midfielder Luka Modric making his 200th international appearance. The 40-year-old became only the fourth male footballer to reach the milestone after Cristiano Ronaldo, Bader Al-Mutawa and Lionel Messi.
Ante Budimir’s winner made him Croatia’s oldest World Cup goalscorer at 34 years and 336 days.
In the day’s final match, Colombia secured a 1-0 victory over Congo DR to book their place in the Round of 32. Daniel Muñoz scored in his second consecutive World Cup match, becoming only the third Colombian player to find the net in the nation’s opening two games of a tournament.
The win ensured Colombia progressed to the knockout stage for a third successive World Cup appearance.
