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Cristiano Ronaldo’s international goal drought ended in style on Tuesday afternoon in Houston, when he scored twice in a 5-0 rout of Uzbekistan.
The legendary Portuguese striker was in good spirits throughout the match, but a question he received during his post-match interview bothered him.
And it was a comparison with the Argentine Lionel Messi.
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Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts after the first half during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group K match between Portugal and Uzbekistan at Houston Stadium in Houston, Texas on June 23, 2026. (Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)
Ronaldo was on the podium asking questions to journalists, when one of them started talking about Messi. Ronaldo quickly turned around and asked another journalist: “Come in,” clearly not wanting to talk about anything related to the man he has been compared to throughout his career.
Tense and awkward would certainly be one way to describe the moment, and the other reporters got the memo as no other questions were asked about Messi during Ronaldo’s session.
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Before scoring in the sixth minute against Uzbekistan, Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, went 10 games without scoring a goal in a major international tournament for his country. It dates back to November 2022, and things only got worse after a lackluster performance in the 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Portugal’s first match at the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Messi made World Cup history in his final match as he broke Miroslav Klose’s all-time goals record after scoring two more in this tournament. Messi already has five goals in two games, scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s first victory over Algeria before defeating Austria.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Lionel Messi of Argentina pose during official 2026 FIFA World Cup portrait sessions in Kansas City and Palm Beach, Florida, ahead of their final World Cup appearances. (Pat Elmont and Karl Bridgeman/FIFA)
Messi now has 18 total World Cup goals in his illustrious career, while Ronaldo has 10. However, both are the only men in history to have played in six World Cups.
It may have been a slower start for Ronaldo in this tournament, but like the other superstars who have been on full display (Frenchman Kylian Mbappé is closing in on Messi’s goal record, while Erling Haaland can’t stop scoring for Norway) he knew he would appear sooner rather than later.
“Sooner or later I will be there. It’s about continuing the work,” Ronaldo told reporters, according to ESPN. “I really believe that God helps those who work hard. It’s always been like that in my career, nothing is going to change. I’m very happy.”
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the field after the first half during the World Cup Group K match between Portugal and Congo in Houston on June 17, 2026. (Karen Warren/AP)
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Ronaldo almost had his own hat-trick, with chances in the second half that didn’t go his way. He also chose to disallow a free kick just outside the Uzbekistan area, where Nuno Mendes surprised everyone and fired in his first goal of the tournament.
Fans have questioned Ronaldo, 41, if he can still offer the attacking prowess he has always shown, especially on the world stage. That debate was somewhat muted after this match, but Portugal has a tougher test this Saturday when it faces Colombia, where it must win to top Group K. Colombia has defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uzbekistan.
