Ronaldo’s Team-First Revival Makes Portugal Look Like World Cup Contenders

Cristiano Ronaldo answered the noise in the most familiar way possible: with goals. After a quiet opening performance that invited heavy criticism, Portugal’s captain came alive against Uzbekistan, scoring twice in a dominant 5-0 World Cup win and helping Roberto Martínez’s side look far more dangerous than they did in their first match.

Ronaldo turns pressure into a statement

According to Vietnamese outlet 24h, Ronaldo had been under pressure after Portugal’s opening fixture, with some critics questioning whether the 41-year-old was still the right focal point for the national team. The debate grew louder as other global stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi delivered headline performances elsewhere in the tournament.

Against Uzbekistan, however, Ronaldo changed the conversation. He was active throughout the match, repeatedly finding space in the penalty area and testing the opposition defence. The report credited him with seven shots, five on target, 34 touches and 10 touches inside the Uzbekistan box — numbers that reflected both his hunger and his influence.

The bigger change: Ronaldo played for the team

The goals mattered, but the most important detail may have been Ronaldo’s willingness to share responsibility. Rather than demanding every set-piece moment for himself, he allowed teammates to step forward. One of those decisions helped create Nuno Mendes’ excellent free-kick goal in the 17th minute, a strike that gave Portugal early control.

That team-first approach continued later when Bruno Fernandes was also given room to influence set pieces and attacking moves. Ronaldo still chased his hat-trick and missed several presentable chances, including a one-on-one opportunity created by Fernandes, but the overall message was clear: Portugal looked better when its captain became the centre of the system without trying to own every spotlight.

Portugal are not just Ronaldo

Bruno Fernandes was one of the biggest beneficiaries. With Bernardo Silva starting on the bench, Fernandes had more freedom to dictate play, link midfield to attack and find Ronaldo with incisive passes. He assisted Ronaldo for Portugal’s third goal and delivered the corner that contributed to the fourth, an own goal by Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper.

The wide areas also gave Portugal a major advantage. João Cancelo supplied the pass for Ronaldo’s first World Cup goal of the campaign, while Mendes added both energy and quality from the opposite flank. Their overlapping runs stretched Uzbekistan and gave Portugal the width that had been missing from the earlier performance.

Martínez’s changes paid off

Roberto Martínez also deserves credit for making bold adjustments after Portugal’s disappointing first outing. The inclusion of Rúben Dias improved Portugal’s ability to build from the back, while the decision to rest Bernardo created space for Fernandes to operate as the main playmaker.

Most importantly, Martínez kept faith with Ronaldo despite the pressure surrounding him. That decision was rewarded not only with two goals, but with a performance that made Portugal look more fluid, less predictable and more emotionally settled.

A wider World Cup warning

If Ronaldo keeps this balance — scoring, pressing, moving intelligently and trusting the talent around him — Portugal’s ceiling rises dramatically. The old idea of simply “passing to Ronaldo” can still work, but only when it is part of a smoother collective structure rather than the whole plan.

The 5-0 win over Uzbekistan does more than improve Portugal’s position in the group. It sends a warning to the rest of the World Cup field: when Ronaldo is sharp and Portugal’s supporting cast is free to shine, this team still has the profile of a serious title contender.

Source checked: 24h.com.vn World Cup 2026 report on Ronaldo and Portugal vs Uzbekistan.