Cristiano Ronaldo relished the conclusion of a “God helps those who work hard,” following his two-goal performance in Portugal’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, making him the first player to score in six World Cups.
Ronaldo and the Portuguese squad faced significant backlash after a disappointing draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The spotlight intensified on the 41-year-old forward, who had gone 10 major tournament matches without scoring prior to Tuesday’s encounter. Doubts lingered about his capacity to lead Portugal at this level, yet following the match, he exclaimed into a television camera: “It was a difficult, dark week; it felt like I’d already retired from football. But I held on as I always do because I believe more in hard work than in football. It was difficult, I have to admit, but we’re back. “It’s fine because when you think about it, it’s already 23 years I’ve been a professional and whenever things don’t go well it’s: ‘Cristiano, he’s finished, he’s old.’ But well, it was a good response from me and my teammates, which is what we wanted.”
Later, Ronaldo reflected on the challenges he faced, stating, “Very happy, but for me the most important thing is the work the team did, the confidence we had,”
He acknowledged his milestone achievement, occurring just after Lionel Messi became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, but emphasized the importance of the team’s collective effort. “We took a lot of hits during the week, we knew that would happen. The team worked very well, we improved a lot. Every cloud has a silver lining, as they say. “Speaking for myself, breaking records is always nice, but my goal is to help the national team achieve its objectives. In this part it was about getting through the qualifying round, and with four points I think we’ve already done it.” he noted. “Today I was [named] the best player on the field, tomorrow it will be someone else,”
Ronaldo continued, “If we are united, I think we can go very far.”
Portugal’s Aspirations Following Victory
The resounding win may bolster hopes that Portugal can emerge as serious contenders in the tournament. “I don’t care about Messi.” Ronaldo remarked. “Both of them make history in football,” When questioned about Messi’s scoring achievements, he replied decisively: “They improve football and the rivalry is important for them to grow as players as well. Our captain is an icon, a role model for the national team. He tries to improve every day, in every training session, and has a great attitude in the dressing room.”
Coaches Reflect on Ronaldo’s Impact
Roberto Martínez, Portugal’s coach, praised Ronaldo for his exemplary leadership amid the recent criticism. He described the forward as a “I told him: ‘Maybe you can do more years if you’re not tired and enjoy football,’” adding, “If you still look like that, why not carry on? “When you play against Ronaldo you know that you can’t leave even one centimetre; he will take advantage. There are many who think that playing in Asia, like Cristiano does, is actually wasting time. But then to come to the World Cup at 41 and play, it shows you are still hungry.”
Fabio Cannavaro, head coach of Uzbekistan, suggested that Ronaldo’s recent performance may counteract the skepticism surrounding the Saudi Pro League, where he plays for Al-Nassr. “I told him: ‘Maybe you can do more years if you’re not tired and enjoy football,’” Cannavaro shared. “When you play against Ronaldo you know that you can’t leave even one centimetre; he will take advantage. There are many who think that playing in Asia, like Cristiano does, is actually wasting time. But then to come to the World Cup at 41 and play, it shows you are still hungry.”
