Cristiano Ronaldo was in no mood to discuss Lionel Messi's record-breaking World Cup exploits after finally making his mark on the tournament with two goals against Uzbekistan. The 41-year-old former Real Madrid and Manchester United star answered his critics emphatically, rolling back the years with a first-half brace to help Portugal bounce back from a disappointing 1-1 draw with DR Congo last week.
Ronaldo's Brace Silences Critics
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez had been under mounting pressure to drop Ronaldo, whose run without a goal at a major tournament stood at 10 games after struggling in the Group K opener. However, Martinez's faith in his talisman was instantly vindicated as Ronaldo's brace paved the way for a comfortable 5-0 victory over the World Cup debutants.
Ronaldo's form was perfectly timed, especially given the exploits of his long-time rival Messi, who 24 hours earlier became the most prolific goalscorer in World Cup history. Messi overtook Germany's Miroslav Klose with two goals against Austria, following up his hat-trick in the win over Algeria.
Petulant Response to Messi Question
When asked for a response to Messi etching his name further into the record books, Ronaldo could muster only a petulant response. He turned his back on a reporter before wagging his finger and asking 'next question'. The exchange was captured on video and shared by journalist Fabrizio Romano on social media.
Ronaldo, however, felt the performance against Uzbekistan was the 'silver lining' the team needed after all their recent criticism. 'I'm very happy but, for me, the most important thing is our work and the confidence we showed,' he said according to reports. 'The team performed really well and improved a lot. As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Obviously personal records are always nice but my goal is always to help the team achieve its objectives.'
Martinez Praises Team Maturity
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez added on fifa.com: 'There are times when you need a game like the first one in order to grow in the tournament. Today we saw a team with the same attitude and commitment, but with greater maturity because it was no longer the opening match.'
