Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo responded emphatically to recent criticism by scoring twice in his side’s commanding 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, but appeared unwilling to discuss rival Lionel Messi’s latest World Cup milestone.
The 41-year-old forward entered the match under intense scrutiny after failing to score in his previous 10 appearances at major international tournaments. Questions had also been raised over his place in the starting lineup following Portugal’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Democratic Republic of the Congo in their Group K opener.
Despite growing calls for Ronaldo to be dropped, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez kept faith with the veteran striker, a decision that paid immediate dividends as Ronaldo netted twice in the first half to inspire a dominant Portuguese performance.
Ronaldo’s return to scoring form came just a day after Messi etched his name deeper into football history. The Argentine superstar became the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record after scoring twice against Austria, adding to the hat-trick he recorded against Algeria.
However, when asked to comment on Messi’s latest achievement, Ronaldo declined to engage. The Portuguese star reportedly turned away from the reporter, wagged his finger and simply replied, “Next question.”
Speaking after Portugal’s emphatic win, Ronaldo chose to focus on his team’s response to recent criticism rather than individual accolades.
“I’m very happy but, for me, the most important thing is our work and the confidence we showed,” Ronaldo said.
“Obviously personal records are always nice, but my goal is always to help the team achieve its objectives.”
The victory provides a timely boost for Portugal’s World Cup campaign and eases pressure on both Ronaldo and Martinez as they look to build momentum in the tournament.
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