The 2026 World Cup came to a close in New Jersey on Sunday as Spain were deservedly crowned champions after a dour 1-0 win over 10-man Argentina in one of the worst finals in the tournament history. La Roja substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of a game that was essentially attack versus defence even before Enzo Fernandez got himself stupidly sent off for a second yellow card in the final minute of normal time.
Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It was the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, before succumbing to Lionel Messi's Argentina in a classic.
Anthony Elanga has shared his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, revealing the crucial lessons he learned during their shared time at Manchester United. The Sweden international is relishing the opportunity to feature at the same World Cup as Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, expressing his immense pride at sharing football's grandest stage with the sport's greatest players.
Bruno Fernandes has expressed his relief after Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics by scoring twice in a dominant World Cup victory over Uzbekistan. Following a tough opening draw, Fernandes highlighted the importance of seeing his captain find the back of the net, insisting that Ronaldo remains the ultimate go-to player for their national side.
Fabio Cannavaro has urged Cristiano Ronaldo to prolong his illustrious career after watching Ronaldo dismantle his Uzbekistan side. Following a week of heavy criticism, Ronaldo answered his detractors by making World Cup history, prompting Cannavaro to praise his intelligence and reveal the heartfelt advice he gave him on the international stage.
Rio Ferdinand has furiously defended Cristiano Ronaldo following his impressive two-goal performance for Portugal against Uzbekistan at the World Cup. The former Manchester United defender took to social media to emphatically silence Ronaldo's critics, praising his remarkable longevity, historic scoring records, and unmatched ability to consistently deliver on football's biggest stage.
Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a defiant message to his critics after inspiring Portugal to a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan at the 2026 World Cup. The legendary forward has revealed the personal toll of the media scrutiny he faced after Portugal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo on matchday one, calling it a "dark week".
Cristiano Ronaldo was in no mood to discuss his long-time rival Lionel Messi despite silencing his own doubters with a vintage performance at the 2026 World Cup. While the legendary forward netted twice in Portugal's dominant victory over Uzbekistan, an awkward post-match exchange in the mixed zone still drew plenty of attention.
Cristiano Ronaldo was in a defiant mood after leading Portugal to a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, insisting his side have truly arrived at the 2026 World Cup. The legendary forward silenced his detractors in Houston with a clinical double that secured three vital points for the Selecao.
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again silenced the critics by etching his name into the record books as the first male player to score in six different World Cup tournaments. Despite mounting pressure regarding his age and international form, the 41-year-old icon proved that his clinical instincts remain sharp on the grandest stage of all.
Joao Cancelo has passionately defended his team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil star Neymar from intense media criticism at the World Cup. The Portugal defender insists that both players have already cemented their legacies in football and do not need to prove their worth to anyone, despite Ronaldo's slow start and Neymar's recent injury woes in the tournament.
Former England striker Michael Owen has passionately defended Cristiano Ronaldo following Portugal's disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo. Despite facing heavy scrutiny for his subdued performance, which came in stark contrast to Lionel Messi's hat-trick heroics for Argentina against Algeria, Owen insists the Al-Nassr striker remains a big-game player and has backed him to "shut up" his critics.
Cristiano Ronaldo has found a staunch ally in former international team-mate Bruno Alves as the legendary forward faces intense scrutiny at the 2026 World Cup. The Portuguese captain has come under fire following a frustrating start to the tournament, but those who have shared the pitch with him are refusing to join the chorus of disapproval.
Francisco Conceicao has insisted that Portugal players do not feel "obligated" to pass the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2026 World Cup. Speaking ahead of their crucial clash against Uzbekistan, the Juventus winger insisted the veteran striker is simply part of the collective group aiming to bounce back and succeed on the grandest stage in international football.
Luis Diaz proved exactly why he is one of the most in-form attackers in world football, turning in a Man of the Match performance to guide Colombia to a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan. The Bayern Munich star was at the heart of everything positive for the South Americans as they kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign in style at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
Uzbekistan
