Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name further into football history on Tuesday, becoming the first player ever to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments as Portugal secured a crucial victory over Uzbekistan.

The 41-year-old forward came into the match under scrutiny following a largely ineffective performance in Portugal's 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening Group-stage fixture. With Portugal needing a win to strengthen their chances of advancing, Ronaldo responded in emphatic fashion.

He opened the scoring just six minutes into the match when João Cancelo delivered a precise cross into the box. Ronaldo timed his run perfectly, meeting the ball at the near post before guiding a first-time finish past the goalkeeper.

According to Triball Football, the goal ended Ronaldo's run of 10 consecutive matches without scoring at a major international tournament and made him the first player to find the net at six different World Cups.

The Portuguese superstar later added a second goal, taking his overall World Cup tally to 10 and surpassing the previous national record held by Portuguese legend Eusébio.

Ronaldo's latest achievement adds to an extraordinary international career. He now holds the men's international football records for both appearances and goals, with 230 caps and 145 goals for Portugal.

The victory provided a timely boost for Portugal's World Cup campaign, while Ronaldo once again demonstrated his ability to deliver on football's biggest stage despite questions surrounding his age and form.

BOB Post