Portugal vs Uzbekistan Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026: Ronaldo's brace propels Portugal to 5-0 victory

That’s it from us in our coverage of the Portugal vs Uzbekistan Group K clash. Thank you and good night!

Portugal are now the Group K leaders after their dominant victory over Uzbekistan, although it remains to be seen if Colombia surpass them after their match against DR Congo later in the day (early morning in India).

Portugal enjoyed the lion’s share of possession had produced more than twice as many shots and four times as many shots on target.

90+6′: Ronaldo does not give up on a hat-trick until the very end, putting in a slide on the right side of the penalty area in vain. Nevertheless, it’s a sensational response from Ronaldo as well as from Portugal to the criticism that they had faced last week after their 1-1 draw against DR Congo, with Selecao das Quinas announcing themselves as a title contender with their clinical performance today!

90+3′: Trincao nearly joins Leao in scoring after coming off the bench after meeting a pass from the left, only for his shot across the goal going wide.

90+1′: Enough time for Ronaldo to complete his hat-trick? The 41-year-old has not dropped his intensity one bit so far, and is unlikely to do so in stoppage time either.

87′: Rafael Leao scores less than five minutes after substituting Vitinha! Pounces on a loose ball inside the box after a cross that was meant for Ronaldo takes a deflection off one of the defenders. The AC Milan forward then fires the ball into the top-left corner of the net with a powerful right-footed shot, leaving keeper Nematov a mere spectator!

84′: Fernandes’ long-range shot from about 20-25 yards out is blocked by Nematov, who dives to his right to deflect the ball away. It’s not just Ronaldo who’s refusing to drop intensity; a lot of his teammates continue to pile pressure on the World Cup debutants.

Martinez, meanwhile, makes another change, with Rafael Leao coming in for Vitinha.

77′: Promising opportunity for Eldor Shomurodov as the forward meets a cross from the right flank and fires the ball towards the Portuguese goalpost on his second touch. Diogo Costa leaps high in the air but breathes easy after watching the ball sail over the crossbar.

76′: Portugal make a fourth change as Neves – who had scored Portugal’s only goal against DR Congo – getting a breather with 14 minutes left in regular time.

74′: Ronaldo meets Mendes’ cross from the left but fires it wide with a weak finish. He intercepts goalkeeper Nematov’s kick shortly after, and attempts a left-footed shot that is blocked by the keeper after diving to his right.

Vega becomes the first Portuguese player to enter the referee’s book today right before the hydration break for a foul on G’aniev.

69′: The game appears done and dusted with Portugal leading four goals to nil. Ronaldo, however, is not lowering his intensity at all, and perhaps intends to walk away with a hat-trick today.

64′: Joao Felix walks off the pitch with Roberto Martinez sending Francisco Trincao in his place shortly after the fourth goal. Martinez perhaps is looking to rest some of his key players with the game against Uzbekistan virtually sealed.

59′: Portugal are awarded a corner at the hour mark, shortly after their Free Kick, and the ball ends up breaching the goal line after taking a deflection off the arm of Man City defender Abdukodir Khusanov, who was busy marking Ruben Dias at the mouth of the goalpost.

57′: Portugal are awarded a Free Kick close to the Uzbekistani penalty area. Ronaldo attempts another dummy, leaving the ball for Bruno and dashing into the box. CR7, however, appears to have overshot his run, and the ball is ultimately cut off by the keeper.

56′: First corner of the game for the White Wolves. Portugal, however, are able to launch a counter that ultimately fizzles out close to the Uzbekistani third.

52′: Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who had scored Uzbekistan’s maiden goal on World Cup debut in their 3-1 defeat against Colombia, shoots the ball towards the Portuguese goal. The ball however, goes straight to Diogo Costa, who comfortably collects it in his arms.

49′: Felix attempts a shot nearly five minutes into the second half, with his long-range effort going over the cross bar.

46′: Portugal get the ball rolling at the start of the second half and are attacking from left to right.

Both teams make changes during half-time, with Uzbekistan manager and 2006 World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro bringing Akmal Mozgovoy and Khojiakbar Alijonov in place of Odiljon Hamrobekov and Sherzod Nasrullaev respectively.

Roberto Martinez, meanwhile, brings Nelson Semedo and Francisco Conceicao in place of Joao Cancelo and Pedro Neto respectively.

With his brace, Ronaldo becomes only the third player to be the youngest as well as oldest player to score for their country at the men’s FIFA World Cup.

Ronaldo charged in from the right edge of the penalty area and put in a neat little finish to beat Uzbekistani keeper Nematov with his low shot aimed at the far post.

Not only did Ronaldo give Portugal the early lead for the second time in as many games, he also made history by becoming the first player in World Cup history to score in six different editions.

45+7′: End of a pulsating first half in Houston, where Ronaldo had produced a lacklustre display last week but has bounced back in style with a first-half brace, nearly scoring a third right before the half-time whistle.

Don’t go anywhere. We’ll be back with the second half shortly.

45+6′: Ronaldo connects with a pass coming from the right channel, only for his shot to be blocked by keeper Nematov. Nearly completed a sensational first-half hat-trick!

45+1′: 45 minutes are up on the clock. Is there enough time for Ronaldo and Co to slip in a fourth goal before they head back through the tunnel?

39′ You do not underestimate Ronaldo. He is showing his range here. Another one for the great footballer. Bruno Fernandes feeds an unmarked Ronaldo the ball inside the box. And Ronaldo makes no mistake.

POR 3-0 UZB

29′ Uzbekistan have struck right after the hydration break. Oh wait. We have a VAR check going on…

GOAL DISALLOWED. Heartbreak for Uzbekistan but the goal has been denied as their was a fou in the build-up to this goal. Of course, Uzbekistan players are not happy but that is what VAR has decided.

POR 2-0 UZB

Cooling break is underway right now. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player in football history to score in 6 different FIFA World Cups after finding the net earlier tonight.

23′ Bruno Fernandes sends this free kick into the box but Portugal players just cannot get the control over ball and Uzbekistan manage a clearance.