Portugal did not need long to take control in Portugal vs Uzbekistan. Cristiano Ronaldo scored after 6 minutes, Nuno Mendes bent in a 20-yard free-kick for 2-0, and the game was effectively finished before the break. The 5-0 scoreline tells part of it, but the ratings explain the rest: Ronaldo led the way on 9, Mendes followed on 8.7, and Bruno Fernandes was heavily involved in the midfield control behind it.

Portugal's early surge decided it

Ronaldo's opener, created by João Cancelo, set the tone straight away. Cancelo finished with 1 assist despite playing only 45 minutes, which says plenty about how much Portugal got from that flank in the first half.

Mendes then made it 2-0 with the best strike of the night, drilling a free-kick from 20 yards into the bottom corner. His 8.7 rating was backed up by a genuinely complete performance: 3 key passes, 9 wins from 17 duels and 54 completed passes from left-back. For a player already getting attention for his club form, this was a strong reminder that he can dominate international games too.

Portugal had 3 goals on the board before half-time, and that is the most important number in the match. This was not a slow grind that opened up late. Uzbekistan were overwhelmed early and spent most of the night limiting further damage.

Ronaldo, Mendes and Fernandes were the difference

Ronaldo took top billing with a 9/10 performance and it was deserved. Goal.com described him this way: "Produced two supreme finishes to get his tournament up and running, while he fooled everyone in the build-up to Mendes' free-kick. Unfortunate not to claim a hat-trick as he was denied by Khusanov and twice by Nematov, but otherwise looked back to his old self."

The shot volume backs that up. Ronaldo hit 5 of his 6 shots on target, which is exactly what Portugal needed from their central forward once the game became one-way traffic.

Fernandes was almost as influential from deeper areas. He posted an 8.3 rating and 1 assist, and his corner just before the hour mark led to Abdukodir Khusanov's own goal. There has also been confusion in some coverage around a 21-assist figure attached to Fernandes, but that is a season total for Manchester United, not anything from this match. In this game, his numbers were straightforward: 1 assist and a major role in the fourth goal.

Even the quieter parts of Portugal's night worked in their favour. Diogo Costa was barely stretched because the midfield and full-backs kept Uzbekistan pinned back, which left the goalkeeper with a comfortable evening behind a side already in total control.

The ratings matched the scoreline

This was one of those games where the individual marks line up neatly with the result. Ronaldo was Portugal's top-rated player at 9, Mendes was close behind at 8.7, Fernandes added an 8.3 from midfield, and Cancelo's assist in a single half underlined how sharp Portugal were before the game settled.

Roberto Martinez's view after the match was blunt enough: "Decision to bring in Felix gave his side more balance while his trust in Ronaldo was rewarded by his captain. Took his chance to rest some of his more important players with the points safe by half-time."

That last point is probably the clearest summary of the night. Portugal won 5-0 because their best players were decisive early, and Uzbekistan had no answer once Ronaldo, Mendes and Fernandes started dictating the match.

FAQ

Who were the best players in Portugal vs Uzbekistan?

Cristiano Ronaldo was rated 9/10 after scoring twice and leading Portugal's attack in the 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. Nuno Mendes followed with an 8.7 display that included a free-kick goal, 3 key passes and 9 duels won. Bruno Fernandes also stood out with an 8.3 rating and 1 assist.

Why was Portugal vs Uzbekistan over so early?

Portugal were 3-0 up before half-time, so the result was effectively settled in the opening phase. Ronaldo scored after 6 minutes, Mendes added a 20-yard free-kick for 2-0, and Portugal's early attacking quality left Uzbekistan chasing the game for the rest of the night.

Did Bruno Fernandes really have 21 assists against Uzbekistan?

No. Bruno Fernandes had 1 assist in the match, and his corner also led to Abdukodir Khusanov's own goal just before the hour mark. The 21-assist figure attached to Fernandes relates to a season total for Manchester United, not to this World Cup game.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →