Portugal cruised to a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan at the 2026 World Cup, but beyond Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace, one moment stole the spotlight. Nuno Mendes produced a stunning free-kick goal after being perfectly set up by the clever thinking of his captain.
In the 17th minute, Portugal won a free kick just outside the penalty area. As usual, all eyes immediately turned to Cristiano Ronaldo. The Uzbek goalkeeper, the defensive wall, and even the fans expected the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to take the shot himself.
Ronaldo and Mendes Deliver a Perfect Free-Kick Trick
But Ronaldo had a different plan. After the match, the Portuguese star revealed how the move was prepared. “At first, I was going to take it. Then I told Nuno: ‘We’re going to fool the goalkeeper. He’ll think I’m shooting, then you’ll hit it hard to the side and it will be a goal!’” Ronaldo explained.
Tout le monde attendait Cristiano Ronaldo… mais c'est Nuno Mendes qui s'en charge ! ⚽️ Le Portugal mène 2-0.
Suivez le match sur M6 et M6+ : https://t.co/jFBpiRsSsI#CDM2026 #FIFAWorldCup #POROUZ pic.twitter.com/FAAl14fADY
— M6 – Coupe du Monde de la FIFA 2026™ (@M6) June 23, 2026
The plan worked flawlessly. While everyone focused on Ronaldo, Nuno Mendes stepped up and unleashed a powerful strike that left the goalkeeper helpless. The PSG defender later admitted that the surprise factor played a huge role, saying that everyone expected Cristiano to shoot and he took advantage of the opposition’s lack of concentration.
🇵🇹 Nuno Mendes : "Tout le monde pensait que Cristiano allait tirer le coup franc, j'en ai profité !"#beINFWC2026 pic.twitter.com/BI4YtO04VU
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) June 23, 2026
Thanks to this perfectly executed tactical move, Ronaldo and Mendes helped power Portugal’s attacking masterclass. Ronaldo added a historic brace, Rafael Leão also got on the scoresheet, and Portugal secured an emphatic win that erased the doubts raised after their draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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