Ronaldo and the race against time

While Lionel Messi has just extended his World Cup record to 18 goals, Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for the match against Uzbekistan under a very different kind of pressure. At 41 years old, every World Cup game now feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And against a supposedly weaker opponent, Portugal cannot afford to make another mistake.

When the clock started running faster

There are races that don't take place on the pitch. They have no opening whistle, no scoreboard. For Cristiano Ronaldo, that's perhaps the most grueling race of his career: the race against time.

Hours before the match against Uzbekistan, the football world was once again talking about Lionel Messi. His brace against Austria helped the Argentina captain raise his tally to 18 goals in World Cups , further extending his lead over the all-time scoring record.

On the other side, Ronaldo is still waiting for his moment.

Ronaldo did not have a good start at the 2026 World Cup. Photo: AP

The 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening match wasn't a disaster for Portugal. But it was clearly not the performance of a title contender. Ronaldo played with great effort, but couldn't make a difference. And as he gets older, the opportunities to correct his mistakes become fewer.

The World Cup is always a short tournament. For Ronaldo, it's even shorter than any other.

Uzbekistan is not a pushover.

In theory, Portugal is considered far superior to Uzbekistan.

They possess a squad of players currently playing for top clubs in Europe. These include Bruno, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leão, and of course, Ronaldo.

But Uzbekistan has shown they didn't come to the World Cup just to make up the numbers.

In their opening match against Colombia, the Central Asian representatives lost 1-3 but did not collapse. Coach Fabio Cannavaro's team still created many difficult moments for their opponents with their energetic playing style and very fast transitions.

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Therefore, this could be the kind of match that makes Portugal uncomfortable.

It won't be an easy match for Ronaldo and his teammates tonight. Photo: AP

Uzbekistan will most likely play defensively, with many players behind the ball, and wait for opportunities to counter-attack. They understand that the longer they maintain a balanced game, the more pressure they will put on their opponents.

And that's when Ronaldo and his teammates have to prove the mettle of a great team.

Not just three points

If Portugal beat Uzbekistan, they will have a clear path to the knockout round.

But for Ronaldo, this match meant much more than that.

It's an opportunity for him to make a comeback after a less-than-ideal debut.

It's his chance to prove that age is just a number.

And it's also an opportunity to remind the world that he's still here.

For over two decades, Ronaldo has been accustomed to conquering seemingly insurmountable limits. He has won the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, the Champions League, and even the European Championship and the Nations League.

Ronaldo has had a long and successful career. And he still longs to extend it further…

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But time is the only opponent no one has ever defeated.

Tonight at the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo will once again take to the field. It may only be a group stage match against Uzbekistan, but for a legend who is nearing the end of his career, every game now holds special significance.

And perhaps, what fans are most looking forward to is not just a victory for Portugal.

The real question is, how much longer can Ronaldo slow down time?

Source: https://danviet.vn/ronaldo-va-cuoc-dua-voi-thoi-gian-d1437595.html