Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterPortugal are finally firing on all cylinders as they lead Uzbekistan 3-0 at the break, and main man Cristiano Ronaldo has proved his critics wrong in the process.It didn't take long for Portugal to assert their dominance, with Ronaldo bagging within six minutes from close range.That sealed a new record for Ronaldo, with the 41-year-old having now scored in six different World Cups. He notched another before the break, but the star forward is not the only player to receive praise from Gary Neville at half-time.Play our FREE match predictor and win �1kGary Neville praises Portugal full-backsThe truth is, Portugal are not a one-man team, and it's Roberto Martinez's full-backs who have caught the eye for Neville in the ITV studio.Neville said: "We talked before the game about the fact that maybe the wide players, like Flix and Neto, weren't best suited to delivering the balls that Cristiano would want. You may like Portugal vs Uzbekistan prediction: Will Cristiano Ronaldo get off the mark at World Cup? How to watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan live streams online and from anywhere. Drama around Portugal World Cup squad as Cristiano Ronaldo criticism proves divisive "Mendes and Cancelo have both delivered in that first part of the game. And yes, the man [Ronaldo] turned up."This first one comes from the underlap. Full-backs don't just overlap anymore, they go on the inside. But this time, it's a more simple movement by the full-back. The right-back, Cancelo, just supports from behind. He waits, he lets Neto do his stuff, and then he joins in. He just takes a couple of touches and swings it round. Just classic."Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Cancelo's assist got the game going early on, and it was Mendes with the free-kick who doubled Portugal's lead later on, despite Ronaldo looking like he would take the set-piece.Ronaldo's goals will be crucial to Portugal's hopes of going all the way at the World Cup 2026, but he is clearly going to need those around him to deliver, too.TOPICSPortugalUzbekistanWorld CupWorld Cup 2026Jakob BarnesFreelance WriterJakob has over 11 years of experience in journalism across sports, entertainment, tech, and politics. Now a freelance news writer for FourFourTwo, he covers the biggest stories from the world of football.
