Cristiano Ronaldo answered his critics in emphatic fashion as Portugal dismantled Uzbekistan 5-0 on Matchday 13 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while England were held to a frustrating stalemate by Ghana in one of the day’s least inspiring contests.
Ronaldo had come under heavy scrutiny after Portugal’s disappointing draw with DR Congo, with calls growing for the veteran forward to be dropped.
QUEM SAIU DO BARCO NÃO VOLTA MAIS
O CAPITÃO CRISTIANO RONALDO CHEGOU
TOMEM TODOS NO CU pic.twitter.com/Xe49dTpTI4
— debate y debate (@debateydebate) June 23, 2026
Ronaldo has arrived ❤️🔥#PORvsUZB pic.twitter.com/q5t2N5RA1V
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) June 23, 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo forever ❤️ pic.twitter.com/UvsflWRb0X
— Janty (@CFC_Janty) June 23, 2026
Hay cosas que no cambian. pic.twitter.com/PrsToJfWwJ
— Alexis Rodríguez (@Alexis_RH_) June 23, 2026
أيرلنغ هالاند عبر سناب شات :
"🐐🫡 pic.twitter.com/K1XTqTz0ti
— كاس العالم 2026 World Cup (@Nsports24) June 23, 2026
Mr Aura pic.twitter.com/tS6LM534yG
— AZ (@6aziz7) June 23, 2026
Instead, the 41-year-old delivered the perfect response, scoring twice in a dominant Portuguese display. His brace not only helped Portugal secure a crucial win, but also saw him become the first player in history to score in six different World Cup editions.
𝗠𝗩𝗣: Cristiano Ronaldo ⭐#VaiDarPortugal | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/O8l3iGDrAY
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) June 23, 2026
— Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) June 23, 2026
Media tried to tell us they hated each other pic.twitter.com/YiR0DNHDOX
— AB⚕ (@AbsoluteBruno) June 23, 2026
Al-Nassr x Portugal 🇵🇹 💛 pic.twitter.com/qnUKffdZpZ
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) June 24, 2026
🚨🗣 Cristiano Ronaldo:
"Cristiano Jr always tells me to keep playing. So that we can be teammates at the 2030 World Cup." ❤️ pic.twitter.com/XCVbL9DfJb
— Fanbrizio Ronaldo (@FabrizioRonald0) June 23, 2026
الاحتفال الأعظم من الزاوية الأجمل 😨😨❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/TBTZcPa8SU
— n e e d y (@CallHimGoat) June 23, 2026
انت متخيل باقي له 25 هدف على الالفية !!
لنا موعد مع التاريخ قريباً و تحديداً قد يكون باذن الله بشعار النصر 😩💛 pic.twitter.com/T0srxrzh2M
— T A R E Q (@t_1897) June 23, 2026
After enduring a long drought in major international tournaments, Ronaldo’s return to the scoresheet was a reminder that he remains capable of making decisive contributions on football’s biggest stage.
Leao after denying Ronaldo a hattrick pic.twitter.com/WqdE7orPvL
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) June 23, 2026
Unsuccessful hatewatch pic.twitter.com/t2XZy3W95B
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) June 23, 2026
𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐑𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐨. 🐐🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/ZYYmgHcv8U
— World Cup Xtra (@WorldCupXtraa) June 24, 2026
لقطة تاريخية بشكل مو طبيعي !!!
رفع رأسه وأغمض عيناه وكأنها عادت له الحياة
"I’m back .. I’m back .. I’m back”
خالدة وأيقونية في كأس العالم؛ الوحش عاد 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aWfvngnx4J
— n e e d y (@CallHimGoat) June 24, 2026
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the YOUNGEST and OLDEST player to score for Portugal at a FIFA World Cup. 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/mM5OtEmxbq
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) June 23, 2026
🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo in FIFA World Cup with Man of the Match award. 🇵🇹 🐐
2006 2026 pic.twitter.com/Jravwim36s
— World Cup 2026 (@WorldCupMedia_) June 24, 2026
Choose your fighter! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/P7xSQDD1Zx
— GOAL (@goal) June 24, 2026
This is 𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐀. 📸 pic.twitter.com/k5gIdlbPRR
— 433 (@433) June 23, 2026
World Cup of Brace 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/HJd1TvZsgA
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) June 23, 2026
خلال يوم واحد فقط حدث كل هذا.. الناس ماهي مستوعبه أننا جالسين نشوف مونديال استثنائي pic.twitter.com/pwdSAKnRb4
— سلطان (@_su6an) June 23, 2026
That moment when you realise you've just become the first footballer to score in six World Cups.#Olympics #Football #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ai0Wou8yQf
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) June 24, 2026
England, by contrast, failed to build on the momentum of their opening win over Croatia. After producing one of their most entertaining tournament performances in recent memory, the Three Lions laboured to a goalless draw against a disciplined Ghana side.
In case you missed England 🏴 vs Ghana 🇬🇭 match, this image describes the 90” minutes of play pic.twitter.com/rSheuVZJ5I
— 𝕏 Ghana 🇬🇭 (@xghana_) June 24, 2026
Carlos Queiroz’s team sat deep, defended compactly and disrupted England’s rhythm throughout, with Ghana arguably coming closest to finding a winner.
Ghana can play without a goalkeeper and still not concede pic.twitter.com/DbsRfs5kED
— Berneese (@theberneese) June 23, 2026
— Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) June 23, 2026
Ghana. Never in doubt. 🇬🇭❤️#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/kqTKZ66ZLi
— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 23, 2026
👀🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/vZPYuKgewe
— ESPN Africa (@ESPNAfrica) June 23, 2026
The result served as a timely warning for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who looked short of ideas when faced with a well-organised opponent.
Elsewhere, Croatia kept their qualification hopes alive with a narrow 1-0 victory over Panama, thanks to a second-half winner from substitute Ante Budimir.
2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ times Luka Modrić. Legend. ✨🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/NA4NzjBe6j
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 24, 2026
Colombia also booked their place in the knockout stage with a 1-0 win over DR Congo, as Daniel Muñoz once again proved decisive with the winning goal.
DR Congo’s famous statue fan Michel Nkuka Mboladinga has arrived at the World Cup. 🤩🔥
AFCON vibes have officially landed on football’s biggest stage. 🥁❤️🇨🇩 pic.twitter.com/elc0KkqOgf
— MC (@CrewsMat10) June 24, 2026
He’s here. He's still standing.
Now the picture is complete. 🇨🇩🩵#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/SqaPendrO8
— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 24, 2026
🌎🇨🇴 OFFICIAL: Daniel Munoz, Man of the Match for Colombia vs DR Congo. pic.twitter.com/ijjcMLGwOR
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 24, 2026
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