Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name deeper into football history by surpassing legendary Portuguese forward Eusébio as Portugal's all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history during a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan.
The 41-year-old scored twice in Portugal's Group K clash, taking his World Cup tally to 10 goals and overtaking Eusébio's long-standing record of nine goals, a mark that had stood since the 1966 World Cup.
Portugal entered the match under pressure after being held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their tournament opener. Ronaldo had also faced criticism after missing several chances in that game. However, both the veteran striker and Roberto Martínez's side delivered a commanding response against Uzbekistan.
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the sixth minute after connecting with a low cross from João Cancelo. The goal was historic in more ways than one, as it made Ronaldo the first player in football history to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments.
The Portugal captain struck again shortly before half-time. Bruno Fernandes split the Uzbekistan defence with a perfectly weighted pass, allowing Ronaldo to calmly finish and make it 3-0. The goal took him past Eusébio's World Cup record and marked another milestone in his remarkable international career.
Besides becoming the first player to score in six World Cups, Ronaldo has also became the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history at 41 years and 138 days, behind only Cameroon's Roger Milla.
The double further increased Ronaldo's career tally to 975 goals for club and country.
The victory moved Portugal to four points from two matches and strengthened their chances of reaching the knockout stage ahead of their final group-stage encounter against Colombia.
For Ronaldo, however, the night will be remembered for a record-breaking feat that ended a 60-year reign and added yet another chapter to one of football's most decorated careers.
Who was Eusébio?
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, widely regarded as one of Portugal's greatest footballers, scored all nine of his World Cup goals during the 1966 tournament in England, helping Portugal secure a third-place finish. His record remained untouched for six decades before Ronaldo finally surpassed it.
Eusébio was the country's biggest sporting icon. Nicknamed "The Black Panther" for his pace, power and clinical finishing, Eusébio is widely regarded as Portugal's first global football superstar.
Born on January 25, 1942, in Lourenço Marques (now Maputo, Mozambique), then a Portuguese colony, Eusébio rose to prominence with Benfica and went on to become one of the most feared strikers of his generation.
His greatest moment came at the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England, where he scored nine goals in just six matches to win the Golden Boot and lead Portugal to a historic third-place finish. The tournament remains one of the finest individual World Cup campaigns ever produced.
One of the standout moments of that World Cup came in the quarter-finals against North Korea. Portugal trailed 3-0 before Eusébio inspired a dramatic comeback, scoring four goals as his side secured a remarkable 5-3 victory.
At club level, Eusébio enjoyed a glittering career with Benfica, winning 11 Portuguese league titles and helping the club lift the European Cup. He scored more than 600 goals in official matches and was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 1965, recognising him as Europe's best footballer.
Eusébio passed away in January 2014 at the age of 71, but he remains one of the most celebrated figures in football history and a symbol of Portugal's rise on the global stage.
