Cristiano gets world first in historic rout

Years will pass, and Cristiano’s battle cry will still be remembered. That “siuuu” he immortalised over time became a banner for him and his faithful followers, who packed the stands in Houston in a sea of red, turning the capital of Texas into the capital of Cristianoronaldism. At 41, he repeated it twice and scored for the sixth consecutive World Cup, a milestone that places him where no one has ever been before.

He is the first player to score in six editions of the tournament. In other words, he is the only footballer capable of keeping his appointment with the net across 20 years of World Cups. An extraordinary feat. An achievement worthy of standing alongside the records Messi has also set at this tournament. Football history is being written by these two giants before our eyes, despite our disbelief, as though what they do were routine when, in reality, it had never been done before.

Cristiano had inadvertently triggered an internal earthquake with his poor debut. The doubts of those who have spent years waiting to see him retire, combined with the lukewarm defence from parts of the dressing room, placed him at the centre of the storm. But he thrives in that environment. He has lived under the spotlight since his youth, and pressure fuels him rather than extinguishes him.

Against Uzbekistan, who offered the defensive openings that Congo denied in the opener, he made amends with a performance for the ages. He arrived a fraction late for his first chance, but he showed no mercy with the next two. That, too, is a hallmark of the Madeira phenomenon. Everything that went wrong in his career, everything that became material for ridicule, he always managed to transform into its opposite. No one has silenced more critics in football than Cristiano Ronaldo.

The goal that sparked the eruption came from a fine pass by Cancelo from the right and an even better run and finish from the Portuguese legend. Football history in motion. The delirious crowd soon demanded a free kick from the edge of the area, but Nuno Mendes took it and curled his effort against the post. That did little to calm the atmosphere because, moments later, Cristiano raced onto a through ball and finished low in a one-on-one situation, sending the stadium into a frenzy and proving that he can still attack space and retain the composure needed to beat a goalkeeper.

Portugal needed this response from their star, and the team looked transformed compared with the opener. Even the set-piece routines worked, including the move that produced the fourth goal and another that Cristiano himself might have finished. Nothing benefits this group more than embracing the competitive spirit of its leader. He may be better or worse, closer to his old self or further from it, play more or play less. But someone who can still make history at 41 did not come to football to settle debates. He came to be remembered. He came to ensure he would never be forgotten. The Bicho will remain exactly that for as long as he chooses.

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Portugal

• 1 Diogo Costa
• 3 Rúben Dias
• 25 Nuno Mendes
• 13 Renato Veiga
• 20 Cancelo (45')
• 11 João Félix (63')
• 23 Vitor Ferreira (82')
• 8 Bruno Fernandes
• 15 João Neves (75')
• 18 Pedro Neto (45')
• 7 Cristiano x2
• Substitutes
• 19 Gonçalo Guedes
• 21 Ruben Neves
• 14 Gonçalo Inácio
• 24 Samuel Costa
• 17 Rafael Leao (82')
• 22 Rui Silva
• 16 Trincão (63')
• 4 Tomas Araujo
• 10 Bernardo Silva (75')
• 9 Goncalo Ramos
• 12 José Sá
• 5 Diogo Dalot
• 26 Francisco Conceição (45')
• 6 Matheus
• 2 Nelson Semedo (45')

Uzbekistan

• 12 Abduvokhid Nematov -
• 5 Rustam Ashurmatov -
• 18 Abdulla Abdullaev
• 2 Abdukodir Khusanov -
• 13 Sherzod Nasrullaev (45')
• 24 Bekhruz Karimov (91')-
• 7 Otabek Shukurov (91')-
• 9 Odiljon Khamrobekov (45')-
• 14 Eldor Shomurodov -
• 22 Abbosbek Fayzullaev (72')
• 19 Aziz G'aniev
• Substitutes
• 4 Farrukh Sayfiev
• 3 Khojiakbar Alijonov (45')
• 10 Ruslanbek Jiyanov (91')SC
• 11 Oston Urunov
• 26 Jakhongir Urozov
• 20 Azizbek Amonov
• 16 Botirali Ergashev
• 25 Avazbek O'lmasaliev
• 23 Sherzod Esanov (91')SC
• 6 Akmal Mozgovoy (45')
• 15 Umar Eshmurodov
• 17 Dostonbek Khamdamov
• 21 Igor Sergeev (72')-
• 1 Utkir Yusupov
• 8 Jamshid Iskanderov

Substitutions

Nélson Semedo (45', João Cancelo), Francisco Conceição (45', Pedro Neto), Khojiakbar Alijonov (45', Sherzod Nasrullaev), Akmal Mozgovoy (45', Odiljon Khamrobekov), Trincão (63', João Félix), Igor Sergeev (72', Abbosbek Fayzullaev), Bernardo Silva (75', João Neves), Rafael Leão (82', Vitinha), Ruslanbek Jiyanov (91', Bekhruz Karimov), Sherzod Esanov (91', Otabek Shukurov)

Goals

1-0, 5': Cristiano, 2-0, 16': Nuno Mendes, 3-0, 38': Cristiano, 4-0, 59': Abduvokhid Nematov, 5-0, 86': Rafael Leao

Cards

Referee: Jalal Jayed
VAR Referee: Leodán González, Hamza El Fareq
Odiljon Khamrobekov (13',Yellow), Renato Veiga (67',Yellow)

Standings

Group K	Pts.	P	W	D	L
1 POR	4	2	1	1	0
2 COL	3	1	1	0	0
3 CON	1	1	0	1	0
4 UZB	0	2	0	0	2

Group K	Pts.	P	W	D	L
1 POR	4	2	1	1	0
2 COL	3	1	1	0	0
3 CON	1	1	0	1	0
4 UZB	0	2	0	0	2