Cristiano Ronaldo expressed relief following a challenging week, celebrating his two goals in Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. This performance marked a historic moment, making him the first player to score in six different World Cups.
Following a disappointing draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ronaldo faced intense scrutiny. The 41-year-old forward had gone without scoring in his last ten major tournament matches, prompting doubts about his ability to lead Portugal. Yet, after the match, he confidently declared into a television camera, “God helps those who work hard,”
Reflecting on his struggles, Ronaldo stated, “It was a difficult, dark week; it felt like I’d already retired from football. But I held on as I always do because I believe more in hard work than in football. It was difficult, I have to admit, but we’re back. “It’s fine because when you think about it, it’s already 23 years I’ve been a professional and whenever things don’t go well it’s: ‘Cristiano, he’s finished, he’s old.’ But well, it was a good response from me and my teammates, which is what we wanted.”
He acknowledged his recent record, set shortly after Lionel Messi became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, while emphasizing the team’s collective effort. “Very happy, but for me the most important thing is the work the team did, the confidence we had,” he remarked. “We took a lot of hits during the week, we knew that would happen. The team worked very well, we improved a lot. Every cloud has a silver lining, as they say. “Speaking for myself, breaking records is always nice, but my goal is to help the national team achieve its objectives. In this part it was about getting through the qualifying round, and with four points I think we’ve already done it.”
Ronaldo’s focus remains on contributing to the national team’s success. “Today I was [named] the best player on the field, tomorrow it will be someone else,” he explained.
This victory may signal a resurgence for Portugal as they aim to become serious contenders. Ronaldo commented, “If we are united, I think we can go very far.” When asked about Messi’s achievements, he responded, “I don’t care about Messi.”
Roberto Martínez, the Portugal head coach, praised Ronaldo’s leadership during the recent challenges. “Both of them make history in football,” he noted, also recognizing the significance of both Ronaldo and Messi in the footballing world. “They improve football and the rivalry is important for them to grow as players as well. Our captain is an icon, a role model for the national team. He tries to improve every day, in every training session, and has a great attitude in the dressing room.”
Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan’s head coach, acknowledged Ronaldo’s achievement and its implications for the perception of the Saudi Pro League, where Ronaldo is currently playing for Al-Nassr. “I told him: ‘Maybe you can do more years if you’re not tired and enjoy football,’” he shared. “If you still look like that, why not carry on? “When you play against Ronaldo you know that you can’t leave even one centimetre; he will take advantage. There are many who think that playing in Asia, like Cristiano does, is actually wasting time. But then to come to the World Cup at 41 and play, it shows you are still hungry.”
He added, “When you play against Ronaldo, you know that you can’t leave even one centimetre; he will take advantage. Many believe that playing in Asia, like Cristiano does, is actually wasting time. But then to come to the World Cup at 41 and play, it shows you are still hungry.”
