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Fabio Cannavaro has encouraged Cristiano Ronaldo to keep playing for a few more years after watching the Portugal captain crush his Uzbekistan side’s World Cup aspirations. Following a week of intense scrutiny, Ronaldo silenced his critics by creating history on the global stage, earning Cannavaro’s admiration for his intelligence and professionalism, and prompting the Italian coach to reveal the advice he shared with him after the match.

A harsh lesson for Uzbekistan

Portugal delivered a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Tuesday in their second Group K match at the World Cup, recovering strongly from their earlier 1-1 draw with DR Congo. The encounter at Houston’s NRG Stadium saw Ronaldo find the back of the net twice, effectively putting to rest recent criticism. Speaking to reporters from O Jogo, Cannavaro admitted that his team struggled to cope with Portugal’s quality and intensity from the very beginning.

The former Italy captain explained that conceding two early goals disrupted Uzbekistan’s rhythm, even though they briefly managed to find some footing in the game. A disallowed goal further dented their morale against a Portugal side that Cannavaro believes is performing on an entirely different level right now.

Ronaldo’s record-breaking display

Cannavaro underlined the relentless danger that Ronaldo poses inside the penalty area, observing that Portugal’s tactical setup revolves around exploiting his predatory instincts. In Houston, Ronaldo etched his name into history once again, becoming the first male footballer to score in six separate World Cups and surpassing Eusebio as Portugal’s all-time top scorer in the competition with 10 goals.

Speaking after the match, Cannavaro said: “I told my players that if we give Cristiano Ronaldo even a centimetre, we’re finished. That’s exactly what happened, and he scored twice. The Portugal team plays to his strengths, and at this stage of his career, he is extremely smart with his movement inside the box.”

Encouraging Ronaldo to keep going

Despite facing what he called a “difficult week” due to criticism, Ronaldo displayed superb fitness and determination. His post-match message, “We are here,” served as a strong reminder of his enduring class and competitive spirit.

Cannavaro expressed great respect for the veteran forward, recounting their exchange after the final whistle. He said: “Cristiano Ronaldo is 41 years old but still has incredible hunger for the game. He truly loves football. He’s already part of football history—an eternal figure—and yet he keeps playing with this intensity. I told him to keep going for a few more years, to continue enjoying the game. Just look at him—he’s in fantastic shape, physically superb, and I hope he plays on for several more years.”

Looking ahead

Ronaldo and Portugal now prepare for their crucial final group clash against Colombia. With Colombia leading Group K on six points and Portugal trailing with four, a win would ensure top spot for the European side. Ronaldo will aim to extend his remarkable scoring run and guide his nation into the knockout rounds as group winners.