Ron-Com - It’s Great to See Cristiano Ronaldo Score at a World Cup… But Let’s Not Get Carried Away

Ron-Com – It's Great to See Cristiano Ronaldo Score at a World Cup… But Let’s Not Get Carried Away

He’s finally arrived – with his brace against Uzbekistan on Tuesday night, the 41-year-old joined the tsunami of A-list names working their way towards the top of the Golden Boot race, became the first man to score at six different World Cup tournaments, and apparently ended any debate over whether he could still get the job done at the highest level.

They were two excellent finishes as well, one a half-volley the Ronaldo of old would have been proud of and one a calm and clinical one-on-one that highlighted every one of his 41 years of experience.

LISTEN TO THAT NOISE 🔊

Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the first player to score at 6⃣ different World Cups! pic.twitter.com/Ujv8hS0510

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 23, 2026

However, I’m here to stop everyone getting too carried away. After all, it was only Uzbekistan, a debuting nation, ranked 58th in the world and almost guaranteed to finish bottom of a challenging group that also features the DR Congo and Colombia. Sure, it added two World Cup goals to his tally and took him to 10 tournament goals, but let's not take it for anything more than it actually is.

Good to Be Back

There was a worry four years ago that we would never see Ronaldo play at a World Cup again. After three lacklustre group stage performances against Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea, followed by goalless knockout showings against Switzerland and Morocco, many feared he would call time on both his international and football careers.

Ronaldo would never quit on those terms, though, not when there are records to be broken and made and goals to score. As such, a move to Saudi Arabia, perhaps in a bid to prolong his career, shortly followed, while many claim that it shouldn’t be considered a ‘proper league’. It has certainly done its job, getting CR7 to a remarkable sixth World Cup.

There were also hints that he was still operating at a high level at the international level, netting five goals throughout qualifying against the likes of Hungary, the Republic of Ireland and Armenia as Portugal topped their group.

Cristiano Ronaldo is BACK! 💥 pic.twitter.com/lLD6onevHv

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 23, 2026

However, those who had been watching the Pro League for an extended period of time know differently. Though mostly drowned out by the more deluded Ronaldo fans out there, they claimed that despite the excellent numbers he was pumping out in the Middle East – he scored 30 goals last season – not all was as it seemed.

Can’t Cut It?

Portugal’s pre-tournament friendlies finally gave these claims a leg to stand on, as warm-up games against Chile and Nigeria illustrated at exactly what level Ronaldo was playing at.

It was a sad sight, and few accepted it, but Cristiano was playing like a shadow of his former self. Scuffed shots, slow-motion runs, plenty of walking, and no shortage of arm-flinging complaints – he looked like a player living on past glories and nothing more.

As they did four years prior, the discussions started once again: are Portugal a weaker team when they start Ronaldo?

A very valid argument, especially when you have talents such as Rafael Leao, Goncalo Ramos and Joao Felix sitting on the bench watching their international careers pass them by with nothing more than substitute cameos to show for it.

Of course, when it comes to finishing, Ronaldo far outranks them – his 975 career goals speak for themselves – but in terms of getting into those positions where his finishing actually comes in handy, Ronaldo’s ability to get there is certainly fading.

This was highlighted in Portugal’s opening game of the tournament, a draw against a spirited DR Congo side. Playing as the attacking focal point, Ronaldo’s inclusion made the Seleção das Quinas look sluggish, slow and tentative, his semi-glacial movement and bad-natured arm-waving certainly did not drive his teammates to push themselves.

He managed three shots, none of which were on target, and even appeared to claim an offside when teammate Joao Cancelo scored a close-range bicycle kick – perhaps he was envious of the fact that he wasn’t doing it.

Uzbekistan represented exactly the sort of challenge Ronaldo needed – not to discredit any of the squad that helped the nation qualify for their first-ever World Cup, but they don’t exactly ooze quality. Their starting back line, which consisted of Man City’s Abdokodir Khusanov and three unknowns, was the best chance Ronaldo would have of scoring at a sixth World Cup.

Ronaldo scoring against Uzbekistan pic.twitter.com/pWqLDujs5F

— Sidgwick (@MSidgwick) June 23, 2026

Unsurprisingly, the unassuming backline provided Ronaldo with plenty of chances, and suddenly, after two goals, he was looking like his old self again – sharp, willing to run, creative, and lethal in front of goal.

If he were 10 years younger, many would argue that Ronaldo had found his form again and now posed a very real danger to any opponents they faced from here on out. But at 41, his brace against Uzbekistan felt very much like a final show of strength before the end of a great career.

Effectively playing against a backline playing in slow motion, he got the job done – he scored the goals, he added to his tally, and he created a record. But let’s not take it as anything more than what it is – a brace against one of the World Cup's weakest nations.