Ronaldo Responds to Messi’s New Record Ahead of the 2026 World Cup

Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo chose not to comment on Lionel Messi’s record‑setting World Cup achievement after he himself made a significant contribution to the tournament by netting two goals against Uzbekistan.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star answered his critics decisively, scoring a first‑half double that helped Portugal rebound from a 1‑1 draw against DR Congo the previous week.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez faced mounting pressure to omit the 41‑year‑old, who had gone ten games without scoring in a major tournament after a lackluster performance in the Group K opener.

Martinez’s confidence in the player was vindicated when Ronaldo’s two goals helped secure a convincing 5‑0 win.

The Al‑Nassr striker’s form came at a timely moment, coming just 24 hours after his long‑time rival Messi became the all‑time leading World Cup goalscorer by surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose with two goals against Austria, following a hat‑trick in the win over Algeria.

When asked about Messi’s continued record‑setting, Ronaldo reacted with petulance, turning away from the reporter, wagging his finger, and replying, “next question.”

Ronaldo said the display against the World Cup debutants was the team’s “silver lining” after recent criticism.

He added, “I’m very happy, but for me the most important thing is our work and the confidence we showed.”

He continued, “Obviously personal records are always nice, but my goal is always to help the team achieve its objectives.”