Sports
Ronaldo Makes World Cup History as Portugal Hammer Uzbekistan 5-0
Ronaldo Makes World Cup History as Portugal Hammer Uzbekistan 5-0
Cristiano Ronaldo produced a vintage performance to silence his critics and rewrite football history, scoring twice as Portugal demolished Uzbekistan 5-0 in their FIFA World Cup Group K clash on Tuesday in Houston.
The emphatic victory moved Portugal to the brink of the knockout stage while the 41-year-old captain became the first player ever to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, adding another remarkable milestone to his legendary career.
Ronaldo, who had faced criticism after Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match, responded in spectacular fashion by netting a first-half brace and inspiring one of the tournament’s most dominant displays.
The Portuguese superstar needed just six minutes to make history, meeting Joao Cancelo’s cross with a first-time finish that beat Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.
The goal saw Ronaldo surpass every player in World Cup history by scoring in six separate editions of the tournament, dating back to Germany 2006.
His trademark “Siu” celebration echoed around Houston Stadium before nearly 69,000 fans as Portugal took complete control of the contest.
The strike also extended Ronaldo’s record as the highest-scoring player in men’s international football and marked his 10th World Cup goal, overtaking Portuguese legend Eusebio as his country’s all-time leading scorer at the global tournament.
Portugal doubled their advantage in the 17th minute when Nuno Mendes curled a superb free-kick into the net.
Uzbekistan briefly believed they had reduced the deficit through Azizjon Ganiev, but VAR ruled out the effort for a foul in the build-up.
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Ronaldo struck again six minutes before halftime with a composed finish after being played through on goal, making it 3-0 and effectively ending the contest before the break.
The veteran forward nearly completed his hat-trick, but Nematov denied him with a brave save before Portugal’s relentless pressure forced an own goal from the Uzbek goalkeeper for the fourth.
Substitute Rafael Leao wrapped up the rout with an emphatic finish in the 87th minute to seal a convincing 5-0 World Cup victory.
After the final whistle, television cameras captured an emotional Ronaldo repeatedly declaring, “I’m back, I’m back.”
Speaking after the match, the Portugal captain admitted he had endured one of the toughest weeks of his career.
“It was a difficult week, a dark week. It seemed like I was already retired from football,” Ronaldo said.
“But I held on, as always, because I believe more in hard work than in anything else.
“It was hard, I have to admit it, but we’re back.”
Despite celebrating another historic achievement, Ronaldo insisted his focus remains on helping Portugal challenge for the World Cup title.
“It’s always nice to break records, but my goal is to help the national team achieve its objectives,” he added.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez stood firmly behind his captain despite criticism following the draw with DR Congo and was rewarded with a commanding display.
Ronaldo entered the match having gone 10 major tournament games without a goal, leading to calls for him to be dropped in favour of younger attackers.
Instead, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner delivered one of his finest international performances in recent years, leading Portugal’s attack with confidence and authority.
The comprehensive victory lifts Portugal to four points in Group K, leaving them in a strong position to qualify for the Round of 32 ahead of their final group match against Colombia.
Meanwhile, tournament debutants Uzbekistan remain without a point and must beat DR Congo while hoping other results go their way to have any chance of progressing.
With Ronaldo rediscovering his scoring touch and Portugal producing their most complete performance of the tournament so far, Martinez’s side will head into the knockout stages with renewed confidence and genuine title ambitions.
Ronaldo Makes World Cup History as Portugal Hammer Uzbekistan 5-0
Sports
BREAKING: Ronaldo Retires From International Football After 23 Years With Portugal
Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his remarkable 23-year career with the Portugal national team.
The 41-year-old forward announced his decision on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in a video message shared on his social media accounts, saying he was ready to hand over Portugal’s iconic No. 7 shirt to the next generation.
Ronaldo, who made his senior international debut in August 2003, leaves the national team as the highest-scoring player in men’s international football and its most-capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances.
In his announcement, Ronaldo reflected on the privilege and responsibility of representing Portugal for more than two decades.
He said: “To the Portuguese people. The time has come to hang our national team’s number 7 shirt. I never felt that it belonged exclusively to me, but for 23 years I have had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it.”
He added that representing Portugal had given him some of the most memorable moments of his football career and that the country would always remain part of him.
A career filled with records and trophies
Ronaldo’s international career began in August 2003 when he made his debut for Portugal at the age of 18.
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Over the next 23 years, he established himself as one of the most successful players in international football, setting records for appearances and goals.
His major achievements with Portugal include winning the 2016 UEFA European Championship and two UEFA Nations League titles, in 2019 and 2025.
He also represented Portugal at six World Cups, from 2006 to 2026, becoming the first player to score at six different editions of the men’s tournament.
His 146 international goals and 234 appearances leave him at the top of the men’s international football records.
November matches expected to mark farewell
Ronaldo’s announcement comes after a difficult period with Portugal, including a disagreement with national team coach Jorge Jesus.
The Al-Nassr forward walked out of Portugal’s training camp in September following disagreements over his playing time and his exclusion from the starting line-up.
He subsequently apologised to his teammates and Portuguese supporters, while accepting a disciplinary punishment from the Portuguese Football Federation.
The federation handed him a 30-day suspension and a fine of €255 following the incident. The suspension was backdated to October 1.
Ronaldo is expected to bring his international career to a close after Portugal’s November international engagements, with the team scheduled to face Denmark on November 14 and Wales on November 17.
His departure will mark the end of an era for Portuguese football, as the country prepares to move forward without the player who has captained its national team and broken numerous international records.
Portugal will, however, continue to have the legacy of a footballer whose name has become synonymous with the country’s achievements on the international stage.
BREAKING: Ronaldo Retires From International Football After 23 Years With Portugal
Sports
Nigeria Flamingos Make History, Stun Brazil 3-1 to Reach U-17 Women’s World Cup Final
Nigeria Flamingos Make History, Stun Brazil 3-1 to Reach U-17 Women’s World Cup Final
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have made history by becoming the first African country to reach the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Brazil 3-1 in a thrilling semi-final encounter on Wednesday night.
Inspired by a brilliant brace from Awawu Bashiru and an early strike from Queen Joseph, the Nigerian girls produced an impressive performance to overcome their South American opponents and book a historic place in Saturday’s final in Morocco.
Joseph opened the scoring with a close-range finish from four yards to give Akeem Busari’s side an early advantage.
Bashiru then doubled Nigeria’s lead with a moment of brilliance, sending a lofted cross over the Brazilian goalkeeper and into the net in the 71st minute.
The forward completed her brace 10 minutes later, calmly firing home a well-placed effort at the near post to extend Nigeria’s advantage and send the Nigerian bench, supporters and officials into wild celebrations.
Brazil managed to pull one back through Greise Kelly in the 89th minute, but it was too little, too late as the Flamingos held on for a memorable victory.
The triumph represents Nigeria’s first-ever victory over Brazil at this level and marks a significant milestone for African women’s football, with the Flamingos becoming the first team from the continent to qualify for the tournament’s final.
Nigeria will now have the opportunity to surpass their previous best achievement of winning the bronze medal in 2022 as they prepare for a showdown with Japan, who defeated tournament favourites Korea DPR in the other semi-final.
The eagerly anticipated final is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, in Morocco, with the Flamingos aiming to crown their historic campaign with Nigeria’s first-ever U-17 Women’s World Cup title.
Sports
Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision
Spanish footballer Jesús de Miguel has died at the age of 30 after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a league match involving his club, CD Tenerife.
The striker died on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at a hospital in Tenerife, Spain, a day after he collapsed during his team’s encounter against FC Andorra in the Spanish second division.
The incident occurred in the closing stages of Monday’s match at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium, with both teams level at 2-2.
De Miguel was chasing a long ball towards the middle of the pitch when FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono rushed out of his penalty area to intercept it. The goalkeeper collided with the forward, striking him in the chest with his knee.
De Miguel immediately fell to the ground, prompting players from both teams to call for urgent medical assistance. Owono was shown a straight red card following the collision.
Medical personnel rushed onto the pitch and administered emergency treatment to the injured footballer before he was transported to hospital by ambulance.
During the journey, De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest, but medical personnel reportedly managed to restore his pulse through emergency resuscitation.
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He was subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
CD Tenerife initially described his condition as stable despite the seriousness of his injuries. However, a subsequent medical update indicated that his neurological condition had deteriorated.
He died at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
Announcing his death, CD Tenerife expressed profound sorrow over the loss of the striker and extended condolences to his family, friends, teammates and supporters.
The club also appealed for respect for the privacy of his family during the difficult period.
The tragedy has prompted a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the footballer’s death, including possible involuntary manslaughter under Spanish law.
Authorities explained that such proceedings are routinely initiated when a death is considered non-natural. The investigation does not, in itself, establish criminal responsibility on the part of anyone involved in the collision.
Meanwhile, the incident has triggered an outpouring of condolences across the football community.
Spanish football giants, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, expressed sympathy to Tenerife and De Miguel’s family.
FC Andorra also paid tribute to the deceased player, while the club’s president and former Barcelona defender, Gerard Piqué, expressed his condolences.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) postponed matches scheduled for Tuesday in the Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina as a mark of respect.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) also announced that matches across its competitions would observe a minute of silence in memory of the late footballer.
De Miguel joined Tenerife from Castellón ahead of the 2025–2026 season.
Born in Madrid in 1996, he built his career across several Spanish clubs, including Leganés B, Fuenlabrada, Unionistas de Salamanca and Castellón.
He scored 11 goals during the previous season and helped Castellón secure promotion to Spain’s second division.
His death has left teammates, supporters and members of the Spanish football community mourning the loss of a player whose career was cut short by the tragic incident.
Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision
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