The football icon finally announced himself at this summer’s tournament after failing to score in Portugal’s opening group games.
Despite fierce criticism from his own fans, manager Roberto Martinez opted to start the Al-Nassr star again in the crucial fixture and his faith was almost instantly repaid with Ronaldo converting from Joao Cancelo’s cross in the seventh minute.
Portugal continued to pile on the pressure in the early stages and were awarded a free-kick just on the edge of the area.
Unsurprisingly, Ronaldo grabbed the ball as his teammates deliberated how best to take the set-piece, though it looked like only one man was going to hit it.
Ronaldo stepped over the ball with his trademark free-kick stance but it was his teammate Nuno Mendes, who seemed to be the decoy, who ran up and curled the free-kick home.
The former Real Madrid star pointed to his head as Mendes wheeled away in celebration, clearly indicating the free-kick was a pre-planned tactic.
Ronaldo’s goal meant he became the first player in history to score in six different World Cup tournaments.
He is also the second oldest player to score in a World Cup.
Prior to the controversial first-half hydration break, Ronaldo had touched the ball just five times, including the one to open the scoring.
Shortly after the hydration break, Uzbekistan had a goal disallowed after VAR ruled that Joao Cancelo was fouled in the build-up.
Portugal will face Colombia in their final group game and Martinez defended Ronaldo before the game, claiming he remains a spearhead for the Portuguese camp.
He said: “We’re more united, we’re stronger. We’re playing a World Cup, of course there’s a lot of noise, a lot of tension, it’s part of the game. Our focus is on the team. We’re more united than before we arrived.
“There’s no tension. He’s an example, as a captain. And he’s reacted as a captain, with a lot of experience. He wants to contribute, and he’s a role model for our team. He opens up spaces with his movements. The numbers support him.
“He’s probably the biggest example of how to recover, how to train. But that doesn’t take away the feeling of frustration we all have, as a team.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty
