World Cup Day 13 talking points: Ronaldo's 'I'm back' moment, VAR's disappearing act and England's snoozefest

Portugal got their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign up and running on Tuesday, thrashing Uzbekistan 5-0. England, meanwhile, were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana. Croatia fared better later in the day, and scraped past Panama 1-0.

But the biggest talking point from Day 13 at World Cup 2026 was definitely Ronaldo bringing an end to his goal drought and screaming "I'm back" into the cameras.

Ronaldo: age-defier, history-maker and difference-maker

Even before a ball had been kicked at this World Cup, Ronaldo stood on the cusp of history. Of becoming the first man to score at six men's World Cups.

But after the game against DR Congo, many wondered if it would happen at all.

Much was made of Ronaldo's ineffectiveness. Some even questioned if he could still make an impact at a World Cup.

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Turns out he can.

The moment he scored, you could sense everyone with an allegiance to Portugal and/or Ronaldo, heave a sigh of relief. Ronaldo then followed it up with another clinical finish before half-time.

Ronaldo may still demand more from himself. Knowing him, he might also be keeping tabs on what Lionel Messi is doing, even if he might not say so in public (although a veiled dig could be round the corner).

And from that perspective, he needed this. Just to tell everyone that while he may have gotten older, he still has not forgotten how to hunt.

Five-star Portugal serve a timely reminder

The draw against DR Congo was a setback. And the fallout from it was damning. But Portugal did what all good teams do: respond on the pitch. From the opening whistle, there was purpose to their possession. Their tempo was better; their passing, snappier. There was an incredible amount of creativity and ingenuity, and above all, they looked hungrier.

And that ultimately translated into a timely five-star display.

Can we do the England-Ghana game again? Please?

England's opening game was action-packed. This one was anything but. Ghana arrived with a plan. To stifle England as much as possible and reiterate the art of defending. Ghana fans would have loved it. The neutrals, maybe not quite.

There were no shots on target in the first half from either side, with Jude Bellingham almost getting into a scuffle with Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz at half-time, the highlight. England's clearest chance came late in the game when Nico O'Reilly hit the post with a header. Harry Kane, usually reliable, skied the rebound, and that summed up England's day.

Maybe if we played it back, we might have a different type of game. But good luck to anyone willing to take that risk.

Ah, surely not again?

If you thought the first half of the England-Ghana game was bad, hold your thoughts. Because a worthy opponent spawned just hours later.

The Croatia-Panama game rivalled the England-Ghana match for how uninspiring it was in the first half. Zero shots on target. Croatia looking laboured and running on fumes; Panama digging in and taking no risks.

Goals, though, change games. And it kind of changed this one too, with the caution from earlier being replaced with something more chaotic. Panama gave it a rattle, but a balmy evening in Toronto ended with Croatia, as has become the norm at recent World Cups, somehow smuggling home three points.

Gianni Infantino: everywhere, all at once

Infantino is the FIFA President and it is understandable he wants to watch every moment of the World Cup. Including the momentum-killing hydration breaks, and the catalogue of advertisements during it.

How he is managing being everywhere is the real mystery. Maybe he has found a teleporting machine. Or maybe he has created a Harry Potter-style vanishing cabinet. Or stumbled upon some floo powder.

Irrespective, the commitment to travel that much is admirable. Even if the lines of political neutrality and organization protocol - which might have something to do with a certain someone handing out the World Cup trophy - are being blurred along the way.

But hey, it's all good. Because nothing spells impartiality quite like getting to every single game, right?

Where's VAR when you need it?

Infantino may be everywhere. But VAR was nowhere to be found in the England-Ghana fixture. Perhaps the officials were on their coffee run. Or on vacation. Queiroz's words, not ours.

Ezri Konsa and Jordan Pickford made rash challenges and got away with it. Pickford emerged with a free-kick for himself, while Konsa was incredibly fortunate not to concede a penalty.

Earlier in the day, VAR rightly ruled out an Uzbekistan wonder goal. Maybe then, the coffee was only simmering. And by the time the Konsa and Pickford incidents came along, it had firmly boiled over.