What happened at the World Cup on June 23, 2026?
Cristiano Ronaldo answered Messi 24 hours later: he scored twice in Portugal's 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan and became the first player ever to score at six different World Cups. England were frustrated again in a 0-0 draw with Ghana, Colombia beat DR Congo 1-0 to reach the knockouts, and Croatia revived their campaign with a 1-0 win that eliminated Panama.
- 1Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Portugal's 5-0 win over Uzbekistan and became the first player ever to score at six different World Cups.[1]
- 2England were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana, their 13th goalless draw in World Cup history; Harry Kane missed a late chance.[2]
- 3Colombia beat DR Congo 1-0 on Daniel Muñoz's 77th-minute goal to reach the Round of 32.[3]
- 4Croatia, 2018 runners-up, beat Panama 1-0 with a substitute Ante Budimir goal; Panama are eliminated.[4]
- 5Portugal led 3-0 by halftime with goals from Ronaldo (2) and Nuno Mendes, sealing a Round of 32 spot.[5]
1. Ronaldo makes history — a goal at SIX different World Cups
One day after Messi broke the all-time scoring record, his great rival hit back. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Portugal's 5-0 rout of Uzbekistan, and his sixth-minute opener made him the first player in history to score at six separate World Cups, going all the way back to 2006. At 41, in his sixth and surely final tournament, Ronaldo is still scoring on the biggest stage. For a casual fan: this is the other half of soccer's greatest rivalry refusing to be outdone.
2. Portugal look like genuine contenders
This wasn't just the Ronaldo show. Portugal were ruthless, winning 5-0 with goals from Ronaldo (two), Nuno Mendes' clever free kick, an own goal, and a late strike from substitute Rafael Leão. They had three before halftime. A 5-0 win is a statement — Portugal have the depth and firepower to go deep, and they reached the Round of 32 in style.
3. England stumble again — held 0-0 by Ghana
The pre-tournament favorites keep frustrating their fans. Thomas Tuchel's England controlled the game but couldn't break down a well-organized Ghana, settling for a 0-0 draw in Boston. Harry Kane skied England's best chance with the goal gaping late on, and a header was cleared off the line in stoppage time. It's England's 13th goalless draw in World Cup history — proof that dominating possession means nothing without finishing.
4. The Messi vs Ronaldo story just won't end
Here's the narrative that has defined two decades of soccer: on Monday, Messi became the all-time top scorer; on Tuesday, Ronaldo set a record Messi can't match — scoring at six World Cups to Messi's five. The two greatest players of their generation, both in their late 30s and 40s, are still trading historic milestones on consecutive nights. We may never see anything like it again.
5. A stat worth sharing
Croatia — runners-up at the 2018 World Cup — looked dead on their feet after losing their opener, but substitute Ante Budimir scored nine minutes after coming on to beat Panama 1-0 and revive their campaign. Panama are out after two straight 1-0 defeats. And Colombia quietly booked their knockout spot thanks to Daniel Muñoz's 77th-minute winner over DR Congo. Group stages reward the teams that find a way.
What to Watch Today
Matchday 14 continues the group stage. Key kickoffs run roughly 12:00 PM / 3:00 PM / 6:00 PM ET — about 1:00 AM / 4:00 AM / 7:00 AM JST and KST the next morning. Check WorldCupExplained.com for the full schedule in your time zone.
Key Takeaways
- Ronaldo is the first player to score at six different World Cups.
- Messi and Ronaldo traded historic records on consecutive nights.
- England keep stumbling, while Portugal look like real contenders.
- Ronaldo scores twice as Portugal thrash Uzbekistan 5-0 at World Cup 2026 — Al Jazeera(accessed 2026-06-24)
- World Cup 2026: England 0-0 Ghana — Harry Kane goes closest late on — Sky Sports(accessed 2026-06-24)
- Colombia 1-0 Congo DR: Muñoz goal sends Colombia into knockouts — ESPN(accessed 2026-06-24)
- World Cup 2026: Panama 0-1 Croatia — Ante Budimir scores from bench — Sky Sports(accessed 2026-06-24)
- Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan (Jun 23, 2026) Final Score — ESPN(accessed 2026-06-24)