Cristiano Ronaldo ended his international goal drought with a brace in Portugal's commanding 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Tuesday. However, his post-match press conference took an awkward turn when he refused to entertain a question about Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo, who had gone 10 matches without scoring for Portugal since November 2022, found the back of the net in the sixth minute against Uzbekistan. He had another chance to complete a hat-trick later in the match, and Portugal also saw Nuno Mendes score from a free kick outside the box.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, aged 41, has faced scrutiny regarding his continued impact on the world stage. This performance, however, offered a partial rebuttal to those doubts. Portugal's next challenge is a crucial match against Colombia on Saturday, where a win is necessary to advance in Group K.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has been making headlines of his own. He recently broke Miroslav Klose's all-time goalscoring record in the FIFA World Cup, netting two goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria. Messi now holds 18 World Cup goals, surpassing Klose's previous record, and has scored five goals in two matches during the current tournament.
Both Ronaldo and Messi are distinguished by their participation in six World Cups, a unique achievement in men's international football. Ronaldo expressed confidence in his continued performance, stating, "Sooner or later, I’m there. It’s about continuing the work." He added, "I truly believe that God helps those who work hard. It’s always been that way in my career, nothing’s going to change. I’m very happy."