World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo has made football history after becoming the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments.

The Portugal captain achieved the feat on Tuesday night after scoring twice in his side’s dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in a Group K encounter.

Ronaldo first scored at the World Cup during the 2006 edition. He also found the net in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments before extending the record at the ongoing 2026 competition.

Portugal took the lead in the sixth minute after Joao Cancelo delivered a cross that Ronaldo converted with a neat finish at the near post.

Nuno Mendes later doubled the advantage with a low free-kick from outside the box before Ronaldo struck again shortly before halftime. Bruno Fernandes provided the assist for the forward, who calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.

The goal was Ronaldo’s 10th in World Cup history. The achievement moved him ahead of Portuguese legend Eusebio as the country’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament. Eusebio had scored nine goals during the 1966 World Cup.

Rafael Leao added another goal in the second half, while an own goal from Uzbekistan completed the emphatic win for Portugal.

Ronaldo also came close to increasing his tally further, but the Uzbekistan goalkeeper denied him on multiple occasions.

The victory moved Portugal to the top of Group K with four points ahead of their final group-stage match against Colombia.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa, UEFA announced on Thursday.

The prestigious fixture, scheduled to take place in Salzburg, will see the Champions League winners PSG face Europa League champions Aston Villa in the traditional curtain-raiser to the European club season.

Artan’s appointment marks another milestone in a refereeing career that has earned widespread recognition across Africa and beyond. The Somali official is regarded by many football observers as one of the continent’s finest referees, having handled high-profile matches in both African and international competitions.

His selection for the UEFA Super Cup comes days after he was controversially excluded from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Reports indicated that Artan was denied entry into the country, preventing him from participating in the tournament despite being considered among Africa’s top referees.

UEFA’s decision to entrust him with one of Europe’s most prestigious club matches is likely to be seen as a strong endorsement of his abilities and standing in world football.

The UEFA Super Cup annually brings together the winners of the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, making it one of the most anticipated fixtures on the European football calendar.