Roy Keane sends message to Cristiano Ronaldo critics after Portugal star scores at sixth World Cup

Roy Keane has lavished praise on Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portugal international scored in his side's World Cup clash with Uzbekistan on Tuesday.The 41-year-old netted twice in the first half as Roberto Martinez's men raced into a 3-0 lead.Ronaldo was given the job of leading the line despite struggling against DR Congo last week.The Al-Nassr star faced widespread scrutiny after his flat performance up top and went into the clash with added pressure on his shoulders as a result. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Lionel Messi, Ronaldo's long-term nemesis, has bagged five goals in just two World Cup outings so far.But Keane believes there was never any reason to scrutinise Ronaldo and expressed his delight for his former Manchester United teammate, who has become the first player to score at six World Cups.Why would you ever doubt him? Why would you ever doubt him, Keane said.The guy is an amazing, amazing player and his stats are fantastic.There's no surprises, no surprises that he turned up today. If you get good some good delivery, hang around there long enough, brilliant finish and obviously his confidence hit the roof.It's amazing what he's done in the world of football over the past 20 years and there's still relief for him there.It shows how much he cares about the game.Ronaldo's first World Cup appearance for Portugal came all the way back in 2006, when the tournament was held in Germany. LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Fifa ban commentator from World Cup after furious meltdownBrendon McCullum reveals Ben Stokes showdown as England respond to rift rumoursThomas Tuchel reacts to national anthem change ahead of England and Ghana World Cup showdownHe opened his account on the global stage during that tournament, converting a penalty against Iran in the group stage at just 21 years old.Four years later in South Africa, Ronaldo captained his country and added a goal during an emphatic 7-0 demolition of North Korea, ensuring his name remained on the scoresheet for a second consecutive tournament.The 2014 World Cup in Brazil proved to be a frustrating campaign for Portugal as they suffered a premature group-stage exit, but Ronaldo still managed to leave his mark by scoring a late winner in a 2-1 victory over Ghana.His most iconic individual tournament performance came in Russia in 2018. The forward kicked off his campaign with a stunning hat-trick in a classic 3-3 draw against Spain, capped off by a dramatic late free-kick—before heading home the winner against Morocco in the following match.In Qatar in 2022, Ronaldo made history yet again by dispatching a penalty against Ghana in Portugal's opening match, making him the first man to score in five separate World Cups.After tonight's impressive performance, the Al-Nassr star has 10 goals to his name in total.How many he gets by the end of the tournament is something only time will tell. Win two tickets to a FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final. ExpressVPN are giving one lucky Friend or Member the chance to experience football's biggest tournament live, with flights and accommodation covered by GB News. Entries close 30 June. ENTER HERE. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter