Ronaldo Ends Scoring Drought, Becomes First to Score in Six World Cups

HOUSTON: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name deeper into football history on Tuesday by becoming the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, finding the net in Portugal’s Group K match against Uzbekistan in Houston.

The 41-year-old striker ended a lengthy goal drought at major international tournaments when he converted from close range in the sixth minute, finishing a precise cross from Joao Cancelo to give Portugal an early lead.

The goal was Ronaldo’s 144th for Portugal in his 230th international appearance, extending his records as the leading goalscorer and most-capped player in men’s international football.

Ronaldo arrived at the match under scrutiny after failing to score in his previous 10 appearances at major international finals. He had also struggled to make an impact in Portugal’s opening World Cup fixture, a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

However, the veteran forward responded in emphatic fashion, breaking the deadlock early and becoming the first footballer to score in six separate World Cup campaigns. His World Cup journey began in 2006 when he scored against Iran, and he has now found the net in every World Cup finals tournament he has played.

The strike also drew Ronaldo level with Portuguese legend Eusebio on nine World Cup goals for Portugal, further cementing his status among the nation’s greatest footballers.

Widely regarded as one of the finest players in the history of the game, Ronaldo made his international debut in 2003 and has enjoyed an extraordinary career with clubs including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. Currently playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, he scored 28 goals in 30 league appearances during the most recent season.

Ronaldo nearly opened his account even earlier in the match, narrowly missing contact with a dangerous cross from Nuno Mendes in the third minute. Moments later, however, he made no mistake, converting from close range to secure a landmark goal and another historic milestone in an unparalleled international career.