Ronaldo becomes first to score in six World Cup tournaments

Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name in football history on Tuesday in Houston, becoming the first man to score in six World Cup finals. The 41-year-old found the net in the sixth minute against Uzbekistan, receiving a pass from João Cancelo and firing with his right foot to make it 1-0. After the goal, he ran to the substitutes' bench to celebrate with his teammates.

The goal made Ronaldo the second-oldest player to score in a World Cup finals match, behind Cameroon's Roger Milla, who was 42 when he scored at the 1994 tournament in the United States. Ronaldo had failed to score in Portugal's opening match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, which ended 1-1.

Ronaldo and Argentina captain Lionel Messi this year became the only male players to have appeared in six World Cups. Ronaldo's scoring streak began in his debut in 2006, and he also scored in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. Messi failed to score at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

On Tuesday, Ronaldo added another goal in the first half, bringing his total to ten goals in World Cup finals. Messi, after a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina's first match and two more goals on Monday against Austria, has 18 goals, making him the all-time top scorer in tournament history. Tuesday's match was Ronaldo's 230th international appearance, a world record. He won the European Championship in 2016 and has won the Champions League five times with Manchester United and Real Madrid.