Cristiano Ronaldo Leads Portugal to Victory at World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo roared back into the World Cup with the kind of performance that bends tournaments to his will.
On Day 13 in North America, Portugal’s captain scored twice in a 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan, became the first man to score in six World Cups, overtook Eusebio as his country’s leading scorer on this stage and then stared down a TV camera and delivered a simple message: “I’m back, I’m back.”
No one in Guadalajara argued.
Ronaldo ignites Portugal
Under pressure after a flat 1-1 draw with DR Congo, Roberto Martinez refused to bow to the noise and kept Ronaldo at the heart of his starting XI. Six minutes later, the decision looked like the easiest call in football.
Joao Cancelo slipped a pass into the box, Ronaldo spun sharply and lashed a low finish inside the near post. One touch to control, one to set the tone for Portugal’s World Cup.
From there, he ran the game without needing to dominate every touch. At a free-kick on 17 minutes, Ronaldo shaped to shoot, the wall braced, the stadium held its breath – and he stepped over the ball. Nuno Mendes, arriving from deep, drilled in from the edge of the box. A feint, an assist in all but name, and a reminder that the 39-year-old still reads moments quicker than most.
The third goal, on 39 minutes, was pure Ronaldo. Bruno Fernandes threaded a perfectly weighted pass between defenders, Ronaldo burst through the gap and finished with ruthless economy. One look, one strike, 3-0. Uzbekistan were beaten, the group warned.
An own goal on the hour mark underlined the gulf, before Rafael Leao added a late fifth in the 87th minute to complete a statement win. Portugal’s campaign, sluggish in its opening act, suddenly looks fully loaded.
Ronaldo, now out on his own above Eusebio in Portugal’s World Cup scoring charts, played down the personal milestones afterwards.
“I’m very happy but, for me, the most important thing is our work and the confidence we showed,” he said. “Obviously personal records are always nice but my goal is always to help the team achieve its objectives.”
The numbers say plenty. The body language said even more.
Colombia through as Munoz breaks DR Congo
In the same Group K, Colombia punched their ticket to the knockout rounds with a hard-fought 1-0 win over DR Congo in Guadalajara.
For 76 minutes, Lionel Mpasi stood between them and the last 32. The DRC goalkeeper repelled wave after wave, Colombia growing more impatient with every save. The pattern felt familiar: pressure, half-chances, frustration.
Then Daniel Munoz arrived.
With 14 minutes left, the defender finally broke the stalemate, driving his finish past Mpasi to settle a tight contest and secure Colombia’s place in the round of 32. No flourish, no drama at the end. Just a decisive swing of the boot and a ticket stamped.
England stall, Ghana stand firm
If Portugal surged, England stalled.
Thomas Tuchel’s side, so vibrant in their 4-2 win over Croatia less than a week ago, laboured to a goalless draw with Ghana in Group L. The game will be remembered more for its edge than its entertainment.
The night began with loud boos aimed at Thomas Partey, Ghana’s midfield anchor, who is due to stand trial next year for rape and sexual assault. He denies the charges, but the hostility around his involvement framed the opening minutes and lingered in the air.
On the pitch, Ghana did what they have done all tournament: defended with discipline and refused to be dragged out of shape. England had the ball, but not the ideas. The first half ended without a single shot on target from either side, a damning line for a team with England’s attacking talent.
Tuchel turned to his bench. The game finally flickered when substitute Nico O’Reilly climbed highest and saw his header crash against the bar. It was a rare crack in Ghana’s armour.
Then, with four minutes left, came England’s big chance. Harry Kane, usually so cold in those moments, leaned back and lifted his shot over the bar. One swing, one groan, two points dropped.
“Yeah, it’s one of those games, a difficult team to break down and obviously we had loads of possession of the ball,” Kane told the BBC. “Probably the last 15 minutes of both halves we were at our best and had some chances, I had a good chance and hit the bar with Nico [O’Reilly] as well.
“Look, we wanted the win but we take the point and we’re still in a great position in the group.”
There was another flashpoint before a ball was even kicked. During the pre-match handshakes, cameras appeared to show Djed Spence pointedly avoiding Partey. It lasted seconds, but will fuel debate far beyond this 0-0.
In the group’s other fixture at BMO Field, Croatia clung on to their World Cup life. Ante Budimir struck in the 54th minute to secure a 1-0 win over Panama, eliminating the Central American side and keeping Croatia in the hunt for the round of 32.
The night belonged, though, to Luka Modric. At 200 caps, he joined one of international football’s most exclusive clubs, becoming only the fourth player in history to reach that landmark. He marked it in fitting fashion: dictating tempo, threading passes, dragging his team through another tight contest.
The bracket begins to take shape
Day 13 completed the second round of group fixtures. The tournament now edges into its decisive stretch, with the third and final round of group games starting tomorrow and the round of 32 looming.
Several heavyweights are already safely through: Mexico from Group A, United States from Group D, Germany from Group E, and a powerful double act of France and Norway from Group I. Argentina have done their part in Group J, while Colombia’s win over DR Congo pushed them over the line in Group K.
For others, the dream has already ended. Haiti (Group C), Turkey (Group D), Tunisia (Group F), Jordan (Group J) and Panama (Group L) are out.
The real chaos begins now. Twelve teams across Groups A to C will discover their fate on Day 14. The equation sounds simple: top two in each group qualify automatically, joined by the eight best third-placed teams. The reality is anything but.
This World Cup is using head-to-head results as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points, ahead of goal difference and then goals scored. If that still doesn’t separate them, the fair play score steps in, with yellow and red cards potentially deciding who stays and who goes. Fewer cards, better score, greater chance of survival.
One reckless tackle could yet cost a country its place.
Trump to hand over the trophy
Away from the group-stage grind, FIFA confirmed a headline for the final.
US President Donald Trump will present the World Cup trophy to the winners on 19 July, sharing the stage with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The pair will jointly hand the trophy to the captain of the victorious team.
“We will be together with the president [Trump] enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together,” Infantino told Fox & Friends. “We are together all the time.”
Trump has done this dance before. Last year he co-presented the FIFA Club World Cup trophy with Infantino, but lingered on the stage so long that he ended up in the middle of Chelsea’s celebrations, to widespread bemusement.
This time, the world will be watching even more closely.
Norway’s Viking roar
Not all qualification stories are written in numbers and diagrams. Some arrive in the form of a celebration that goes viral and refuses to die.
Norway sealed their place in the knockout rounds from Group I and marked it with their now-iconic Viking Row celebration, a choreographed, chest-thumping display that has become a symbol of their resurgence on the biggest stage.
They sat, they leaned back, they rowed in unison. A squad pulling in the same direction, literally and figuratively.
On a day when Ronaldo declared his return, Modric reached 200 caps, England stumbled and Colombia pushed through, Norway’s Vikings added their own image to a tournament already rich in storylines.
The second round is over. The safety nets are gone. From here, every touch, every card, every missed chance carries a different weight.
