Houston belonged to Cristiano Ronaldo, and he made history inside six minutes. João Cancelo's cross found him for a calm finish, and at 41 years and 138 days he became the first man ever to score at six different World Cups, overtaking Lionel Messi. Nuno Mendes curled in a direct free-kick on 17', and Ronaldo's poacher's second on 39' moved him past Eusébio (10 finals goals) as Portugal's all-time World Cup top scorer. Abduvohid Nematov's 60' own goal — a Bruno Fernandes corner flicking off Khusanov and the goalkeeper — and Rafael Leão's 87th-minute strike completed it before 68,777 at NRG Stadium.

The defining image came at full time: Ronaldo bellowing "I'm back, I'm back" into a TV camera, later posting "ESTAMOS AQUI!" ("We are here!") after days of scrutiny over his role. Manager Roberto Martínez framed it as redemption from the opening 1-1 with DR Congo: "There are times when you need a game like the first one in order to grow in the tournament... a team with the same attitude but with greater maturity" (FIFA).

Uzbekistan's World Cup debut ended in elimination, and coach Fabio Cannavaro — the 2006 World Cup-winning captain — fell on his sword: "All my life I have taken responsibility, as a player and as a coach. If we lost 5-0, it is because today I made mistakes, and not them" (Daily Post). He felt Azizjon Ganiev's disallowed effort at 2-0, ruled out by VAR for a foul on Cancelo, drained his side's belief.

Weird & wonderful

Cannavaro, who lifted the trophy as Italy's captain in 2006, watched the only player to outlast him in World Cup scoring — Ronaldo also debuted in 2006 — torment his team two decades later.

The numbers describe a procession: Portugal's 2.43 xG to 0.25 and 9 shots on target to 2 reflect total control, with 66% possession choking the supply to Uzbekistan's lone striker. Crucially, Portugal's expected goals (2.43) sat below their actual five, a sign of clinical, above-trend finishing led by Ronaldo's brace. Corners were near-even (3-2), underlining that Portugal's damage came from open play and a set-piece, not a barrage of dead balls.