Cristiano Ronaldo is not a man to shy away from a challenge and he will be determined to prove he can still cut it with the world’s best when he leads Portugal against Uzbekistan this afternoon.
Ronaldo has had to watch as the game’s other big-name players, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, have all shone at the World Cup so far.
The 41-year-old has yet to get off the mark with Portugal only managing a 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their opener.
Uzbekistan went down 3-1 to Colombia and need a win here to ignite their quest to qualify from Group K.
Where to watch Portugal v Uzbekistan: TV and online streams
Portugal v Uzbekistan kicks off at 6pm UK time on Tuesday. It will be broadcast on ITV1 and STV and available to stream via ITVX and the STV Player. Sky subscribers can also stream the game via Sky Go.
Stats for Portugal v Uzbekistan
- Only one of Uzbekistan’s last 23 games against UEFA opposition has ended in victory (D10, L12).
- This is the first meeting between Portugal and Uzbekistan.
- Ronaldo has failed to score in each of his 10 major tournament games.
- The 41-year-old has not scored a non-penalty goal in his last 13 tournament appearances.
- Only once before have Portugal failed to win both of their opening two games at a World Cup. That incidence came in 2014, when they failed to progress to the knockouts.
- Portugal are winless in their last two World Cup games against AFC teams, losing to South Korea in 2022 following a draw with Iran in 2018.
- Uzbekistan have lost their last three games having suffered defeat in both pre-World Cup friendlies.
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