Ronaldo becomes first player to score at six different World Cups

SALADIN, Iraq — HOUSTON — Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at six different FIFA World Cup finals, finding the net against Uzbekistan in Houston. The 41-year-old Portugal captain struck in the sixth minute of the match, lifting his international tally to 144 goals and his finals tally to nine. Ronaldo previously scored at the 2006 tournament in Germany, 2010 in South Africa, 2014 in Brazil, 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar. His first World Cup goal came against Iran in 2006, followed by a goal against North Korea in 2010, one against Ghana in 2014, three against Spain and one against Morocco in 2018, and another against Ghana in 2022. Portugal opened its North American campaign with a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo, a match in which Ronaldo drew criticism for a lackluster performance. The forward, who plays for Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr, has scored 28 goals in 30 league matches this season.