Cristiano Ronaldo says “I’m back” after scoring twice as Portugal beat Uzbekistan 5-0, a result that he and multiple outlets describe as a response to recent criticism. Ronaldo, who is 41, becomes the first player to score in six World Cup tournaments, and he adds two goals to help Portugal run riot in the match. Several reports frame the performance as coming after a “difficult” or “dark” week for Ronaldo and the team, including renewed attention following Portugal’s earlier 0–0 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Ronaldo had not scored in major tournament play for an extended stretch. After the final whistle, Ronaldo delivers the message into a television camera, repeating “I’m back” as a defiant reply to doubters and talk about his form and future. The outlets also note that Portugal’s win puts the team closer to the knockout rounds, and that Ronaldo’s brace revives momentum following a challenging period.