Ronaldo hits back after being 'retired' - but shuts down Messi question

Cristiano Ronaldo hit back at his critics after scoring twice in Portugal's 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan.

In his side's World Cup opener against DR Congo, the 41-year-old had extended his barren spell in major international competitions to 10 games and the pressure on manager Roberto Martinez to drop him appeared to be mounting.

But Ronaldo responded with a double in his second outing, which saw him become the first player to score at six World Cups.

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"I can tell you it was a very tough week, a difficult week, a week in which public opinion was very harsh on us, all the players, especially the coach," he said after the game in Houston, where he was named man of the match.

"Whenever things go well, Cristiano is good; when things go badly, he's retired, he's old.

"It will always be like that. But it was a good response for me and my team-mates."

Asked about joining Lionel Messi, who has scored five goals so far, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race, Ronaldo said: "I always get there. Maybe late, but I'm there.

"That's why I continue to go to my job, I believe strongly in what I do, I believe strongly that I'm working hard, God helps.

"My career has always been like this, and I'm very happy. Everything else that comes from outside, we can't control it. Because when we don't play well, we don't win, we are always attacked, especially me, but I'm used to it, and I keep going."

Asked later by one journalist about Messi's exploits, a disgruntled Ronaldo turned away to answer a question from another.

Neville: Ronaldo could play at the next World Cup, aged 45!

Gary Neville says it would not surprise him if Ronaldo plays at the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco following his double in the 5-0 win against Uzbekistan.

"I would not put it past him [Ronaldo] to be there at the next World Cup," said Neville on ITV after Ronaldo's performance.

Ronaldo would be 45 when the next World Cup takes place.

Roy Keane added: "He was never gone, he is the man! What is up with everybody? His two goals were excellent.

"That sharpness, he has joined the party. You have to admire the hunger and desire, he was desperate to get more in the second half."

Ronaldo's World Cup records at a glance

Ronaldo's World Cup scoring streak started in his debut tournament in 2006 and he also netted goals in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

While he shares the record for most tournaments with Messi, he stands alone in scoring a goal in each edition after Messi failed to score a goal at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Ronaldo's goals on Tuesday gave him 10 career goals in the tournament.

Messi has 18 after a hat-trick in Argentina's opener against Algeria and two more goals on Monday against Austria that made him the all-time leading scorer in tournament history.

Ronaldo's performance extended his record by giving him 145 international goals, and his 10 career goals in the World Cup moved him past Eusebio's nine to make him Portugal's all-time scoring leader at the tournament.

Tuesday's game was the 230th of Ronaldo's international career, which is the most in history.