At 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo has answered every question about whether he still belongs at a World Cup 2026 with the most Ronaldo answer possible: two goals, a dominant team performance, and a 5-0 scoreline against Uzbekistan. According to NBC News’ match report, Ronaldo scored his first and second goals of the 2026 World Cup as Portugal delivered their most commanding group-stage display in years.
Meanwhile, England drew 0-0 with Ghana in a match that generated almost no goalmouth action. And Croatia survived Panama through a single Ante Budimir goal. Here is the complete picture from June 23’s World Cup 2026 results.
Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan: Ronaldo’s Brace Silences the Critics
The match was not a contest — it was a statement. According to Olympics.com’s results page, Ronaldo’s first goal came from a right-footed finish off a pass from Nuno Mendes — clinical, precise, and exactly what you would expect from a player who has been doing this for two decades. The Ronaldo brace followed as Portugal built to their 5-0 final scoreline.
The timing of this Ronaldo brace is worth noting. Just days earlier, Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with his brace against Algeria — covered by 24PakTimes in our Messi hat-trick article. Now Ronaldo has responded. At ages 39 and 41 respectively, Messi and Ronaldo are still the two most talked-about players at FIFA World Cup 2026. Some things never change.
After drawing 1-1 with DR Congo in their opener — a result 24PakTimes covered in full — this 5-0 win over Uzbekistan puts Portugal on the brink of the knockout rounds with maximum points from their second match.
England 0-0 Ghana: Nothing to See Here
According to NBC News, England and Ghana played a chippy match to a scoreless draw, with neither team registering a shot on goal in the first half. After their 4-2 win over Croatia in the opener — one of the tournament’s best games — this was a significant step backward in quality.
According to Yahoo Sports’ results tracker, England still leads Group L narrowly following the draw. A win in their final group game would confirm progression. But the performance against Ghana raises questions about England’s consistency that the 4-2 Croatia win had temporarily buried.
For Pakistani fans who stayed up past midnight to watch this match: we apologise on football’s behalf. A 0-0 game with zero first-half shots deserved a refund on the lost sleep.
Croatia 1-0 Panama: Modric’s Final World Cup Survives
According to NBC News, Croatia beat Panama 1-0 through a Ante Budimir goal. The veteran striker came off the bench at halftime and delivered the only decisive moment of quality in a physically demanding but tactically tight match. Croatia remain alive in Group L, placing third and retaining their chance to advance to the round of 32.
Luka Modric — 39 years old, captaining Croatia in what is almost certainly his final World Cup 2026 — is still pulling strings in midfield. Croatia may not win the tournament. But they are not going home yet.
All June 23 World Cup 2026 Results
| Match | Score | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal vs Uzbekistan | 5–0 | K |
| England vs Ghana | 0–0 | L |
| Croatia vs Panama | 1–0 | L |
Today’s Matches — June 24 (Pakistan Time Guide)
| Match | Group | PKT Time |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland vs Canada | B | ~8:00 PM |
| Bosnia vs Qatar | B | ~8:00 PM |
| Scotland vs Brazil | C | ~11:00 PM |
| Morocco vs Haiti | C | ~11:00 PM |
Scotland vs Brazil in Miami is tonight’s headline match. Scotland qualified for their first World Cup 2026 since 1998 — the tournament’s best underdog story. Brazil are the five-time champions. This one is worth staying up for. PKT kickoff is approximately 11:00 PM — a reasonable hour for Pakistani fans. 24PakTimes previously covered Zidane Iqbal’s historic appearance for Iraq and the Germany and Japan results from June 22 — both of which remain the weekend’s best football stories alongside Ronaldo’s brace.
What Happens Next
Portugal advance toward the knockout stage. England need a result in their final group game to avoid a nervous finish. Croatia need a win or a favourable result elsewhere. 24PakTimes publishes a World Cup morning recap every day for Pakistani fans.
