Cristiano Ronaldo has the chance to shine again this Tuesday (23), when Portugal faces Uzbekistan, at 2 pm (Brasília time), at the NRG Stadium, in Houston, in the second round of Group K of the 2026 World Cup. After a lackluster debut in the 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Portuguese captain, at 41 years old, is the big name to lead the team’s reaction.
Ronaldo had no shots against Congo and saw other tournament stars shine in the first round. The star is under pressure, but his history shows that he usually responds in important games. A victory for Portugal, combined with goals or assists from CR7, could calm the atmosphere in the dressing room and put the team at the top of the group.
Ronaldo should be a starter with strong midfield support
Roberto Martínez should keep Ronaldo as a reference in attack. The coach is studying a more dynamic formation, with the return of Rúben Dias in defense and fast options alongside the captain, such as Francisco Conceição and Pedro Neto. The midfield, with Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and João Neves, will be essential to create clear chances for the top scorer.
Probable Portugal lineup (4-2-3-1)Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, João Neves; Francisco Conceição (or Bernardo Silva), Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto (or Rafael Leão); Cristiano Ronaldo.Technical:Roberto Martinez.
Uzbekistan tries to contain the Portuguese star
Fabio Cannavaro, coach of Uzbekistan, must set up a defensive block to neutralize Ronaldo and explore counterattacks with Abbosbek Fayzullaev and Eldor Shomurodov. The Asian team arrives empty after defeat to Colombia and knows that a good performance against CR7’s Portugal would be a historic milestone.
Uzbekistan’s probable lineup (3-4-2-1)Utkir Yusupov; Abdukodir Khusanov, Jasurbek Urozov (or Rustam Ashurmatov), Abdurauf Abdullaev; Bekzod Karimov, Aleksandr Mozgovoy, Otabek Shukurov, Farrukh Sayfiev; Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Odiljon Khamrobekov; Eldor Shomurodov.Technical:Fabio Cannavaro.
Predictions point to Portugal with Ronaldo decisive
Most analyzes predict a 2-0 or 3-0 Portuguese victory, with Ronaldo appearing as top scorer or waiter. The captain has extra motivation to score and help the team recover on the table. A convincing performance could be the turning point in Portugal’s campaign.
Where to watch
The game will be broadcast live on CazéTV (YouTube), Betano and Prime Video. Follow Ronaldo’s moves in real time on the main portals.