Cristiano Ronaldo immediately walked away after being asked by reporters about Lionel Messi's hat-trick.
On 24 June 2026, after Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 in their second group stage match of the 2026 World Cup, Group K, Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals. Portugal increased their points to four, boosting their chances of advancing after a draw in their first game.
In a post-match interview, a reporter asked about Lionel Messi's performance for Argentina, who scored a hat-trick in the first game and two more goals in the latest match. This question visibly irritated Ronaldo, who said he preferred to focus on his own team's performance rather than be asked about other players. Before walking away, he added, "Mbappé also scored."
Messi has played in six World Cups, appearing in 28 matches and scoring 18 goals, holding the all-time World Cup top scorer record. Ronaldo has also played in six World Cups, with 24 matches played. He is the first player in history to score in six consecutive World Cups, with 10 goals, tied for 10th on the all-time World Cup top scorer list.
In the final Group K match, Portugal will compete for the group championship against Colombia at Miami Stadium on Sunday, 28 June at 06:30 Thai time.