Cristiano Ronaldo Dominates World Cup with Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo roared his way back into this World Cup with the kind of performance that bends a tournament to his will.
On Day 13 in North America, Portugal’s captain scored twice in a 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan, became the first player to score in six World Cups, overtook Eusebio as his country’s top scorer at the finals and then stared down a TV camera and declared: “I’m back, I’m back.” No one inside the stadium doubted it.
Around him, the group stage tightened. England stalled. Croatia clung on. Colombia advanced. And the bracket for the round of 32 began to take shape.
Ronaldo ignites Portugal
Roberto Martinez had been under fire for persisting with Ronaldo after a flat 1-1 draw against DR Congo. He doubled down. Six minutes in, the decision looked like a masterstroke.
Joao Cancelo slid a pass into the box, Ronaldo spun sharply and lashed his finish inside the near post. One touch to set, one to score. The landmark came with typical finality: six World Cups, goals at all of them.
From there, Ronaldo dictated more than just the scoreline. Standing over a free-kick on 17 minutes, he shaped to shoot, dragged Uzbekistan’s wall and goalkeeper towards him, then stepped aside. Nuno Mendes arrived on cue and drilled in from the edge of the area. A decoy, not a diva.
Portugal were ruthless. Bruno Fernandes, all angles and vision between the lines, clipped a perfectly weighted ball in behind on 39 minutes. Ronaldo burst clear and finished with the cold efficiency that has defined his international career. Two goals before half-time, questions answered.
Uzbekistan unraveled after the break. An own goal on the hour marked the point of no return, and Rafael Leao added a late fifth in the 87th minute to complete a five-star statement in Group K.
Ronaldo’s reaction mixed personal satisfaction with a familiar refrain about the collective. He spoke of work, confidence, objectives. The numbers, though, speak loudest: he now stands alone as Portugal’s leading scorer at World Cups, ahead of Eusebio, the man whose shadow has hovered over every Portuguese forward for half a century.
Colombia’s 1-0 win over DR Congo in Guadalajara, sealed by Daniel Munoz with 14 minutes left, ensured the group now has a clear shape. Lionel Mpasi had kept Colombia at bay with a string of strong saves, but Munoz finally broke him, and with that strike Colombia booked their place in the knockout rounds.
England stall, Ghana stand firm
While Ronaldo rolled back the years, England ground to a halt.
Four days after a wild 4-2 win over Croatia, Thomas Tuchel’s side laboured through a goalless draw with Ghana in Group L. The match will be remembered less for its chances than for its soundtrack and subtext.
It began with boos. As the teams lined up, a section of the crowd jeered Thomas Partey, who is set to stand trial next year for rape and sexual assault, charges he denies. The noise framed a tense, scrappy first half in which neither team managed a shot on target.
Ghana, drilled and disciplined, have been one of the most stubborn defensive units at this World Cup. They sat compact, squeezed the space between the lines and left England’s possession sterile. Tuchel’s side moved the ball, but rarely moved Ghana.
The game only truly flickered into life after the interval. Nico O’Reilly came off the bench and almost stole it, his header crashing against the bar. Later, with four minutes left, Harry Kane found the chance he wanted. The captain leaned back, the ball flew over, and with it went England’s best opportunity.
Kane acknowledged the frustration but pointed to the bigger picture, speaking of long spells of possession, late pressure in both halves and the sense that England remain “in a great position in the group.” The table backs him up; the performance less so.
One more flashpoint arrived before kick-off. Cameras appeared to catch Djed Spence bypassing Partey in the pre-match handshakes, a small gesture that quickly became one of the night’s main talking points.
In the group’s other game, Croatia kept their campaign alive with a 1-0 win over Panama at BMO Field. Ante Budimir struck in the 54th minute, but the evening belonged to Luka Modric. At 200 caps, he joined an elite club, becoming only the fourth player in history to reach that milestone. Even in a tight, attritional contest, the 38-year-old’s touch and tempo stood out.
Panama’s defeat confirmed their elimination from the tournament. Croatia, by contrast, live to fight on.
Bracket takes shape as giants step through
Day 13 wrapped up the second round of group fixtures. The third and final set of group games now looms, with the bracket beginning to harden.
Several heavyweights are already through to the round of 32: Mexico from Group A; the United States from Group D; Germany from Group E; France and Norway from Group I; Argentina from Group J; and Colombia from Group K. Others have already been cut adrift: Haiti (Group C), Turkey (Group D), Tunisia (Group F), Jordan (Group J) and Panama (Group L) are out.
Twelve teams across Groups A to C will discover their fate on Day 14. The equation is simple, the permutations anything but. The top two in each group advance automatically, joined by the eight best third-placed sides. With head-to-head records used as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points, every direct duel suddenly carries extra weight. Only then come goal difference and goals scored, followed by fair play records, where yellow and red cards can decide a World Cup destiny.
Margins are shrinking. Discipline now matters as much as daring.
Politics, power and a Viking roar
Off the pitch, power and politics briefly took centre stage. FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that US President Donald Trump will present the World Cup trophy to the winners on 19 July, sharing the stage with him in the post-match ceremony.
“We will be together with the president [Trump] enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together,” Infantino said, noting their close working relationship. The image will be global, the choreography scrutinised, especially after last year’s Club World Cup, when Trump lingered awkwardly on stage during Chelsea’s celebrations.
On the field, Norway chose a very different kind of theatre. Having secured their place in the knockout rounds from Group I, they marked qualification with their now-iconic Viking Row celebration, players and staff locking arms and rocking in unison in front of their supporters. It was part statement, part spectacle, and a reminder that this World Cup is not just about who survives, but how they seize their moment.
Ronaldo has seized his. England have stalled. Modric endures. Colombia and Norway stride on. With the final round of group games about to begin, the question is no longer who has arrived at this World Cup—but who is ready to take it over.
