Cristiano Ronaldo offered a curt response when questioned about Lionel Messi's record-breaking World Cup achievements, after finally making his mark on the tournament with two goals against Uzbekistan.
The 41-year-old former Real Madrid and Manchester United star silenced his critics with a first-half brace that helped Portugal bounce back from a disappointing 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their Group K opener. The 5-0 victory over the World Cup debutants provided a much-needed boost for Roberto Martinez's side.
Ronaldo's blunt dismissal
When asked for his reaction to Messi becoming the most prolific goalscorer in World Cup history—overtaking Germany's Miroslav Klose with two goals against Austria, following a hat-trick against Algeria—Ronaldo turned his back on the reporter, wagged his finger, and said 'next question,' according to footage shared by Fabrizio Romano.
Vindication for Martinez
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez had faced mounting pressure to drop Ronaldo, who had gone 10 games without a goal at a major tournament. However, Martinez's faith was instantly vindicated as Ronaldo's brace paved the way for a comfortable victory. 'There are times when you need a game like the first one in order to grow in the tournament,' Martinez told FIFA.com. 'Today we saw a team with the same attitude and commitment, but with greater maturity because it was no longer the opening match.'
Ronaldo on team performance
Ronaldo emphasized the team's improvement over personal milestones. 'I'm very happy but, for me, the most important thing is our work and the confidence we showed,' he said. '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.'
