Ronaldo scores his 9th World Cup goal as Portugal lead against Uzbekistan

On Tuesday, 23 June, Portugal face Uzbekistan in the second round of Group K at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 6th minute to put Portugal ahead, marking his 9th World Cup goal. The match will be broadcast live on ETV+ and Rus.ERR.

On Tuesday, 23 June, the second round of Group K matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway as Portugal take on Uzbekistan. The match is broadcast live on ETV+ and Rus.ERR, with commentary from "Aktuaalne kaamera" sports journalists Igor Saveljov and Aleksei Margiev.

Ronaldo strikes early

In the 6th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old captain, stepped up and scored a goal to put Portugal ahead. This was his 9th World Cup goal, making him one of the most prolific goalscorers in World Cup history.

Ronaldo came into this match under some pressure: in the first game against DR Congo (1:1), he failed to score or provide an assist. There has been active discussion in the media about his partnership with Bruno Fernandes and his impact on the team's attacking structure. The statistics are not in his favour, across the last two World Cups combined, Ronaldo has scored just one goal.

Portugal's group situation

Portugal began the tournament with a 1:1 draw against DR Congo and currently sit third in Group K. The Roberto Martínez-led side is aiming to restore their status as World Cup favourites. João Neves did put the Portuguese ahead early, but the teams went into the break level.

Uzbekistan lost their first match to Colombia 1:3. Their World Cup debut was largely spent under the opposition's control, with almost no shots on target in the first half. However, after the break they managed to score the nation's first-ever World Cup goal: following a pass from Dostonbek Hamdamov, Abbosbek Faizullayev headed in. The joy was short-lived, as Colombia quickly restored their lead.

Play-off place at stake

For Uzbekistan, this match is crucial: a second straight defeat would virtually eliminate their chances of reaching the play-offs. The two best teams in the group progress, but there is also a chance for teams finishing third to advance in the tournament.