The FIFA World Cup 2026 witnessed remarkable achievements as Cristiano Ronaldo made headlines with his record-breaking performance. Portugal secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, marking their first win of the tournament, while England faced Ghana in a goalless draw, setting some unwanted records in the process.

Ronaldo's Historic Milestones

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different World Cups, achieving this feat with a brace against Uzbekistan. He has participated in World Cups in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026. Although Lionel Messi has also played in six World Cups, he did not score in the 2010 tournament. Additionally, Ronaldo set the record as the oldest player to score multiple goals in a World Cup match at 41 years and 138 days, surpassing Messi's record from this tournament.

Ronaldo's goal against Uzbekistan also made him the second oldest player to score in World Cup history, following Roger Milla of Cameroon. With this match, Ronaldo has now scored against 49 different nations, bringing his total to 145 goals in 230 appearances. He has also surpassed Eusebio to become Portugal's all-time top scorer in World Cup history.

England's Draw and Unfortunate Records

In contrast, England's match against Ghana ended in a 0-0 stalemate, marking the end of their 12-game competitive winning streak. This was their first failure to win a competitive match since October 2024. Ghana, on the other hand, managed to avoid defeat in their opening two World Cup matches for the second time since 2010, when they reached the quarterfinals.

Despite dominating possession with 79%—the highest for any team that failed to score in a match in the last 60 years—England could not find the back of the net. Ghana's two shots in the match were the joint-lowest of any team in the 2026 World Cup, and it was the fewest shots England has conceded in a game in the last six decades.

As the tournament progresses, the contrasting fortunes of Portugal and England highlight the unpredictable nature of the World Cup, with records being set and broken in every match.