Maria Dolores, mother of Cristiano Ronaldo, has shared a heartfelt message following her son's historic achievements at the 2026 World Cup. The 41-year-old Portugal captain became the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments, netting twice in a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan that secured Portugal's place in the round of 32.
Record-Breaking Feat
Ronaldo's two goals against Uzbekistan took his World Cup tally to 10, surpassing the legendary Eusebio's nine goals for Portugal in 1966. At 41 years and 138 days old, he also became the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, trailing only Cameroon's Roger Milla, who scored at 42 years and 39 days.
Maria Dolores's Message
In an interview with FIFA, Maria Dolores said: "I'm proud that my son continues to make history. I want to thank all the fans that have been by your side. You've given so much to the world." She added: "A kiss to you, my son. Your mother is always here for you. I want to thank everyone for the respect that you have shown my son. I send kisses to Portugal and all the Portuguese fans! I hope football continues to bring people together. Go, Portugal! Kisses."
Portugal's Group Stage Performance
Portugal finished second in Group K after draws with DR Congo (1-1) and Colombia (0-0), followed by the emphatic win over Uzbekistan. They will face Croatia in the round of 32 in Toronto on Friday, July 3 at midnight.
Ronaldo's Response to Critics
Ronaldo faced criticism after the opening draw with DR Congo, while Lionel Messi and Vinicius Jr impressed early on. However, after the Uzbekistan match, Ronaldo declared: "I'm back! Only so they don't forget...23 years like this." He added: "I'm very happy but the most important thing is the work the team did and the confidence it gives us. Obviously personal records are always nice but my goal is always to help the team achieve its objectives."
Reflecting on a challenging week, Ronaldo said: "We had to get through many obstacles during the week but the team worked very well, we improved a lot. It's been a difficult week, a dark week without kicking a ball, but we dealt with it as we always do because we believe in our work. It was difficult, but we're back."
