'I'm back' - record-breaking Ronaldo answers critics
"I'm back! I'm back!"
After scoring twice in his side's 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan, Cristiano Ronaldo stared into a television camera lens and screamed a defiant message for those who said he was Portugal's problem at the 2026 World Cup.
The 41-year-old could not hide his feelings, nor contain his joy as he celebrated the historic feat of becoming the first player to find the net in six editions of football's biggest tournament.
It was also the perfect response to the critics who had written him off.
Ronaldo had been widely criticised after Portugal's laboured 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their opening Group K tie, while other global stars including Argentina's Lionel Messi, France forward Kylian Mbappe, Norway talisman Erling Haaland, Brazil's Vinicius Jr and England captain Harry Kane all impressed in the first two weeks.
But Ronaldo made a spectacular, albeit late, entrance to the party.
He only needed six minutes to open the scoring with his record strike, sweeping in a superb half-volley from Joao Cancelo's cross, and netted again before the break with a fine finish following Bruno Fernandes' perfectly-weighted through-ball.
Only a goalline clearance from Abdukodir Khusanov denied Ronaldo a first-half hat-trick and, despite the efforts of his team-mates in the second half, their captain could not get the hat-trick he craved.
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When asked about his "I'm back" statement after the match, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said it was "only so they [his critics] don't forget - 23 years [doing so] like this".
"I'm very happy but the most important thing is the work the team did and the confidence it gives us," added Ronaldo.
"Obviously personal records are always nice but my goal is always to help the team achieve its objectives.
"We had to get through many obstacles during the week but the team worked very well, we improved a lot.
"It's been a difficult week, a dark week without kicking a ball, but we dealt with it as we always do because we believe in our work. It was difficult, but we're back."
Portugal will face Colombia on Sunday 28 June (00:30 BST) in their final match to determine who goes through from Group K and tops the standings.
And boss Roberto Martinez said Ronaldo had been vital in lifting spirits and maintaining standards after the disappointing draw with DR Congo.
"It was a difficult week because we hadn't achieved the result we were aiming for and we had a difficult situation with criticism, noise - which was actually unfair," added Martinez.
"We were raging, we were sick, but we grew as a team, overcame emotions and have been able to give our very best. Cristiano Ronaldo was a perfect captain, very much focused and made use of his experience because it is not the first time he deals with this situation.
"Our captain is an icon, he is playing in his sixth World Cup. He is a role model that plays for the Portuguese national team, that works hard every day, that tries to improve every training session and with a great attitude on the pitch and also in the dressing room."
Ex-England captain Wayne Rooney, a former team-mate of Ronaldo at Manchester United, told BBC Sport: "With all the other top players scoring goals at this tournament, to score two goals at the World Cup at 41 is incredible.
"He didn't have the best game but this is what he does. He's taken a bit of criticism and this is how he responds. He has done that his whole career.
"He wants to be the best and he's always been like that. When the other forwards and attacking players are scoring goals, he wants to top that list. His response here is exactly what you'd expect from him.
"He's selfish in terms of he wants to be the best, but he is a team player also. To watch Messi last night and Ronaldo at their age, it's incredible what they are doing."
'Doubted genius - he was never gone'
Both Ronaldo and Messi have played at every World Cup since 2006. Messi has 18 goals - setting the all-time scoring record with two against Austria - compared to Ronaldo's 10, but the Argentina forward failed to score in the 2010 competition.
While Messi turns 39 on Wednesday, Ronaldo has become the second oldest goalscorer in World Cup history - behind only Cameroon's Roger Milla, a goalscorer in 1994 against Russia at the age of 42.
As well as Ronaldo's double, a free-kick from Nuno Mendes, an own goal from Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov and a late fifth from substitute Rafael Leao gave Portugal the third-biggest victory of the 2026 tournament.
Uzbekistan boss Fabio Cannavaro, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, felt Ronaldo was still performing at a high level despite his age.
"You come to the World Cup and show that when you are 41 you are still hungry and can do a lot," said the Italian. "You don't forget how to play football. He is part of the history of the World Cup.
"Football is not only in Europe, it's open to the whole world. There are no horizons or borders anymore. Cristiano is still one of the strongest players in the history of football. If you give him one centimetre in the box you are dead."
Speaking on ITV Sport, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane felt Ronaldo would inspire his team-mates.
"Cristiano Ronaldo was never gone," he said. "He is the man. What is up with everybody? Doubted genius.
"It's great to see him back. His two goals were excellent. Again, he has joined the party. The hardest point of the game is putting the ball in the back of the net - and he does.
"What you have to admire about Ronaldo on top of everything else is he is a billionaire, who has won everything apart from the World Cup, but the hunger, and desire to keep getting in there.
"To me that is the great example for these lads, that hunger to keep getting goals."
Ronaldo's goals at six World Cups
The stats behind Ronaldo's historic run
Ronaldo becomes the first men's or women's player to score in six different World Cups - Messi, Brazil's Marta and Canada's Christine Sinclair are the only players to score at five.
Ronaldo becomes the first men's or women's player to score in six different World Cups - Messi, Brazil's Marta and Canada's Christine Sinclair are the only players to score at five.
Ronaldo is the second-oldest scorer in World Cup history at 41 years, 138 days, behind Milla in 1994 for Cameroon against Russia (42 years, 39 days).
Ronaldo is the second-oldest scorer in World Cup history at 41 years, 138 days, behind Milla in 1994 for Cameroon against Russia (42 years, 39 days).
Ronaldo is just the third player to be his country's oldest and youngest goalscorer at the World Cup - among nations with more than one goalscorer - after Michael Laudrup for Denmark and Messi for Argentina.
Ronaldo is just the third player to be his country's oldest and youngest goalscorer at the World Cup - among nations with more than one goalscorer - after Michael Laudrup for Denmark and Messi for Argentina.
Ronaldo made his 24th World Cup appearance against Uzbekistan - only Messi (28) and Lothar Matthaus (25) have more, with Ronaldo levelling Miroslav Klose and surpassing Paolo Maldini (23).
Ronaldo made his 24th World Cup appearance against Uzbekistan - only Messi (28) and Lothar Matthaus (25) have more, with Ronaldo levelling Miroslav Klose and surpassing Paolo Maldini (23).
Ronaldo and Messi share the longest gap between a player's first and last goal in the history of the World Cup at 20 years 11 days.
Ronaldo and Messi share the longest gap between a player's first and last goal in the history of the World Cup at 20 years 11 days.
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