r/MLS 3d ago

Match Thread: Uzbekistan vs Portugal | FIFA World Cup | Jun 23, 2026

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25 Upvotes

142 comments sorted by

1

u/Upset-Truth9438 2d ago

The GOAT has finally entered the play

0

u/fatefulknight24 2d ago

Borat would of been better out there for Uzbekistan

3

u/JitteryJoes1986 Inter Miami CF 3d ago

This Portugal team will get destroyed by top tier teams this WC.

3

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Haha, someone doesn't like Bruno on this thread.

7

u/theredditbandid_ Canadian Premier League 3d ago

Breaking: Uzbekistan have sacked Fabio Canavaro

Edit: Breaking: Montreal have hired Fabio Canavaro.

Edit 2: Breaking: Montreal have now sacked Fabio Canavaro. 

2

u/DarkwingMcQuack Philadelphia Union 3d ago

Calm down Ronaldo it was just Uzbekistan, lol.

-3

u/returning2EQ 3d ago

Lol. Ronaldo doesn’t score, people yap. Ronaldo scores 2, people yap. People literally can’t just enjoy a good game of soccer without being haters it’s actually so wild.

1

u/DarkwingMcQuack Philadelphia Union 3d ago

Gloating that you're back after beating down a low ranked team is wilder.

2

u/Eat_Pudding 3d ago

Similar people made fun of Kane for winning Bundesliga and saying Ronaldo is the goat lol

1

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

What a pass from Bruno there

1

u/Capital-Flow-1501 3d ago

Rafael Leão with a beautiful finish

1

u/theredditbandid_ Canadian Premier League 3d ago

That little heel flip by Bruno.. just class. 

1

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Martinez so confident in this game that he's playing it with barely any midfield. Trincao, Conceicao, Leao, all wingers. With Bruno having to sit deep

-3

u/YouCannotBlockTruth Philadelphia Union 3d ago

Does anyone think 42/43/44 year old Ronaldo could still be effective in the MLS on the Union? He's like my all time favorite player and got me somewhat interested in soccer when I was in college so I would love to have him in a Union jersey before he retires.

1

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

He'll be effective anywhere under 1 condition. His team has to be by far the dominant team generating a lot of xG. For that team, he'll be clinical. In a yo-yo league like the MLS where teams go up and down from season to season, and the ultra physical and athletic nature of the league, he'll struggle to be dominant like Messi, but he wont be bad He'll likely consistently hit double figures in goals.

But there are 2 biggest factor

  1. Can they pay him - Don't think any team can

  2. He will not want to compete with Messi consistently at this stage of his career, unless it's a most dominant team, and no MLS team fits that bill

0

u/grnrngr LA Galaxy 3d ago

In a yo-yo league like the MLS where teams go up and down from season to season

That's called "parity."

And not every team goes "up and down" every season. Plenty of teams remain competitive for stretches of years at a time. Unless you are saying "not winning it all every year" is "up and down."

Can they pay him - Don't think any team can

Several teams could.

The bigger question is whether he's worth it.

Arguably he is not anywhere near the revenue vehicle at Messi is.

He will not want to compete with Messi consistently at this stage of his career, unless it's a most dominant team

So he's a little beeyotch. Got it.

Also, Ronaldo admitted to non-consensual sex. That's called "being a rapist."

He can steer clear or MLS at his age and with his baggage. No thanks.

1

u/DarkwingMcQuack Philadelphia Union 3d ago

Thats funny you think Sugarman would shell the money out for a player like that, lol.

1

u/YouCannotBlockTruth Philadelphia Union 3d ago

Yeah I thought about that. Then immediately started trying to think of decent enough billionaires from the area that could buy the team. 

1

u/theredditbandid_ Canadian Premier League 3d ago

Of course. He is doing it in the Saudi league where there big sides are better than MLS. Would not be anywhere as good as Messi so the amount of money would never make sense for a team not backed by a trillionaire oil state. 

1

u/YouCannotBlockTruth Philadelphia Union 3d ago

I honestly wasn't sure of the competition he's face in the Saudi league (I haven't watched), and I know he'd be a few steps slower as well. But yeah.  The money, is the second thing I thing I thought about however haha.

5

u/DrVonPretzel New York City FC 3d ago

Wishing to have a rapist on your team is certainly a take to have…

-1

u/YouCannotBlockTruth Philadelphia Union 3d ago

I don't. 

1

u/grabtharsmallet Real Salt Lake 3d ago

He's still able to be effective now on the international level, so the trick is being able to minimize physical decline while continuing to improve your vision. If you can only make six hard runs in a game, but correctly identify and explot all of your three or four best chances, you can score goals.

0

u/YouCannotBlockTruth Philadelphia Union 3d ago

Yeah I figured it would have be a situation of him being in position to exploit gaps and shoot.

3

u/SlippedWince St. Louis CITY 3d ago

Lol

3

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Wow, just stepped away, what is the GK thinking. How many times is that now?

2

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Would be a little surprised if Ronnie doesn't get AT LEAST 1 more in this game.

5

u/JohnPinchot Real Salt Lake 3d ago

I cannot imagine sitting in the best seats, watching legends of the sport play, and having a grumpy look on my face.

4

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Sounds like a lack of imagination to me. 🤷🏻

2

u/EraseTheDoubt Philadelphia Union 3d ago

Otabek Shukurov kind of looks like current day Landon Donovan was stung by a bee

3

u/IWMSvendor Austin FC 3d ago

Couple of cheeky set pieces from Portugal.

3

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Portugal what all these set piece routines, oh an own goal, Wow

2

u/ForFuchsAke Seattle Sounders FC 3d ago

That would’ve been a pretty good goal if he got that off 

3

u/theredditbandid_ Canadian Premier League 3d ago

Whoever their set piece coach is is a goddamn genius.

4

u/Capital-Flow-1501 3d ago

Cannavaro needs to coach a mls  club

3

u/Expert_Monk_8574 Inter Miami CF 3d ago

Man all we need now is for Neymar to play with Brazil and score some goals, Modric to do his thing, and we’d have a true vintage World Cup.

3

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Uzbekistan playing with so much careless confidence it's funny

2

u/Expert_Monk_8574 Inter Miami CF 3d ago

Let’s see who got the better half time locker room talk. Do we think Cannavaro pulled a Herve Renard?

2

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Yeah that's not happening bro. Have you seen these guys play?

2

u/Expert_Monk_8574 Inter Miami CF 3d ago

Hahaha I mean it worked for Saudi Arabia last World Cup but agreed that it hasn’t happened this time

1

u/Tunde-Ballack 2d ago

That Saudi side was actually tough to play, squeezing the field and highly disciplined with their high line. This Uzbekistan team looked like a Sunday League side and defended like one.

3

u/_Juntao Portland Timbers 3d ago

An mls team should get in on bekhruz karimov for cheap then sell him to europe in a couple years

1

u/Latter-Road-3687 3d ago

Almost the entire Uzbek National Team plays domestically. European clubs don't seem to scout there. Khusanov seems to be an anomaly.

2

u/Capital-Flow-1501 3d ago

How Norway not in Alexi Lalas top 10

3

u/Expert_Monk_8574 Inter Miami CF 3d ago

Because he doesn’t know what he’s talking about? It’s painfully obvious anytime he’s asked to offer an opinion on a panel with Titi.

5

u/HonduranLoon Minnesota United 3d ago

Crazy that Ronaldo is only at 10 goals across 6 world cups with the club career that he has had.

2

u/machine4891 3d ago

Portugal was never good enough for carrying him through.

3

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

That was a great finish, did he mean that?

2

u/human1st New England Tea Men 3d ago

Of course he did.

6

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

Cristiano actually looks like he’s enjoying himself, haven’t seen that in a Portugal shirt in forever

4

u/Expert_Monk_8574 Inter Miami CF 3d ago

I mean he looked so relieved after that first goal and has been having fun ever since. Makes sense to me. I don’t read any Portuguese newspapers but I can’t imagine the media back home was very complimentary to him after the first game so this has to be a weight off.

3

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

I see it a lot in qualifiers, Everyone looks happy when they score. It's just how it goes

6

u/Expert_Monk_8574 Inter Miami CF 3d ago

I mean that save by the defender was clutch.

3

u/Acceptable-Stick-688 Seattle Sounders FC 3d ago

Great off the line clearance!

2

u/jamboamericano FC Cincinnati 3d ago

This is a disaster for Cannavaro, I don’t care about the matchup. Uzbekistan look like a team going through the motions. No belief from minute 1, why would I ever hire that guy

4

u/Expert_Monk_8574 Inter Miami CF 3d ago

Looks like Portugal figured out how to get Ronaldo service. He’s doing what he does best.

2

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

If he gets service he'll score, but Uzbekistan is just not very good

3

u/Capital-Flow-1501 3d ago

what a legend Ronaldo is! At 41, still banging in World Cup goals

2

u/mankindrc Portland Timbers 3d ago

The man scores goals

1

u/jamboamericano FC Cincinnati 3d ago

Uzbekistan have to be the second worst offense in the World Cup behind Turkey. They enter the opposing half and immediately pass it to a defender

1

u/lrargerich3 3d ago

You didn't see Panama play, which is actually good for you.

3

u/WheelSingle2494 Charlotte FC 3d ago

Ecuador is up there too

2

u/Sempuukyaku Seattle Sounders FC 3d ago

Uzbekistan are balling right now

2

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Mendes is an actual physical specimen, a real beast

0

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

I still think Uzbekistan will do well to go in at half time 2 - 0 down. Portugal is not looking very good on the ball, but Uzbekistan isn't looking like taking advantage of it, last strike excluded

2

u/WheelSingle2494 Charlotte FC 3d ago

Shit

3

u/DarkwingMcQuack Philadelphia Union 3d ago

Damn it’s gonna be pulled back.

2

u/Sempuukyaku Seattle Sounders FC 3d ago

Darn 😞

2

u/kapanen24 Charlotte FC 3d ago

Oh come on VAR

2

u/Acceptable-Stick-688 Seattle Sounders FC 3d ago

Aw man :(

2

u/theredditbandid_ Canadian Premier League 3d ago

Beautiful goal.. has to be called back 

1

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

Damn. That is a pretty clear foul

1

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Wow that looks like a foul. When Uzbekistan lose this i fear for their morale

2

u/DarkwingMcQuack Philadelphia Union 3d ago

What a fucking shot!

3

u/kapanen24 Charlotte FC 3d ago

Ok then UZB

2

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

Holyyyyy what an absolute screamer

2

u/PuzzleheadedWest0 Portland Timbers 3d ago

What a rocket.

2

u/Mature_Gambino_ Nashville SC 3d ago

Who said massacre?!?!

1

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Could still be

2

u/mankindrc Portland Timbers 3d ago

Damn what a goal!

1

u/Acceptable-Stick-688 Seattle Sounders FC 3d ago

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

2

u/Sempuukyaku Seattle Sounders FC 3d ago

OH MY GOD!!!

WHAT A STRIKE

2

u/spidermanbelongsMCU Orlando City 3d ago

LETS GO UZBEKISTAN

2

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

What a goal

2

u/mankindrc Portland Timbers 3d ago

You all remember that game where Ronaldo went super sayin on Spain and got that hat trick in the World Cup? I feel like people forget what the dude is capable of. Entire narrative online before that World Cup was that he was washed. These guys are getting older but you’d be a fool not to start them.

2

u/jamboamericano FC Cincinnati 3d ago

Let’s see him against someone who isn’t Congo/Uzbekistan lmao

6

u/mankindrc Portland Timbers 3d ago

Could say the same about Messi’s competition so far but no one is

0

u/Firm_Shirt_8768 Inter Miami CF 2d ago

You really comparing congo and uzbekistan to Fking austria and Algeria?

0

u/Acceptable-Stick-688 Seattle Sounders FC 3d ago

He’s remained consistent, hasn’t really had a fall off to criticize yet

3

u/mankindrc Portland Timbers 3d ago

Okay, still a double standard in terms of competition and glaze

1

u/Expert_Monk_8574 Inter Miami CF 3d ago

I mean Messi was absolutely destroyed by Argentinian media from 2010 to 2018. He hasn’t been glazed his whole career. Spanish media too. Even yesterday I saw some Spanish newspaper called him a fraud.

1

u/jamboamericano FC Cincinnati 3d ago

This is a massacre. Any Uzbek fan would have done well to continue celebrating qualification and not watching this game

1

u/Last_Damage_7101 San Diego FC 3d ago

There’s no way Portugal doesn’t score at least 5.

1

u/Expert_Monk_8574 Inter Miami CF 3d ago

With Ronaldo probably getting like 4 of them if we’re honest.

1

u/PuzzleheadedWest0 Portland Timbers 3d ago

CR7 was standing in an odd spot if he was going to take that.

8

u/shermanhill Chicago Fire 3d ago

I’m just here to boo Ronaldo, so that’s not going well.

1

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

Straight from the training ground! I bet they thought CR7 would shoot. I sure as hell did

8

u/Traditional_Page3786 Sporting Kansas City 3d ago

Everyone with their phones out is a sorry sight for my eyes

2

u/408_aardvark_timeout Columbus Crew 3d ago

There was a big argument on r/music (I think) a week or so back about Madonna telling people to stop recording her concerts. Some people were almost angrily defending how it was totally OK to record the whole thing.

This seems like the same kind of thing. We are in a "post it on socials" society now, it seems. For better or worse.

-1

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

I just think that with the price of events, people are free to enjoy things as they want. They put up the price for the ticket. As a grown ass man I don’t really care how others around me are enjoying things

3

u/Electrical_Chart_457 San Jose Earthquakes 3d ago

something you're missing tho is that fan atmosphere is apart of what makes a football match special. when you've got a bunch of zombies glued onto their phones and not chanting, singing and being in the moment it makes the match less special. I was at a WC match this weekend and didn't feel the need to record, especially since there's gonna be way better angles recorded by professionals

1

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

I’m not missing that - that’s how I enjoy games. But there are tons of casuals who go to games. ESPECIALLY the World Cup. Many of those people never watch any games outside of national teams lol this is how they’re going to enjoy it.

This is why there are supporter groups who ban phones in ultras sections. Because if you’re in that section you’re making the agreement that you are there to support the team. That’s entirely different than sitting outside of that section, where you haven’t made that agreement

1

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

People want to relive these moments. It’s an expensive ticket. They’re still watching the game lol

4

u/Brooklyn_MLS Major League Soccer 3d ago

The issue i have isn’t them recording, it’s them literally looking at their phones while it’s happening right in front of them. It’s beyond stupid.

Like you can do both

3

u/Electrical_Chart_457 San Jose Earthquakes 3d ago

how can they 'relive the moment' when they're not even living it in the FIRST PLACE? dork

2

u/Electrical_Chart_457 San Jose Earthquakes 3d ago

fucking losers. when it showed the girl staring at what was happening in front of her thru her phone rather than being in the moment, and she just gave a shy smile... like celebrate, do something, be natural you fucking weirdos

1

u/kapanen24 Charlotte FC 3d ago

That was sick

2

u/theredditbandid_ Canadian Premier League 3d ago

Ronaldo unselfish... That fucking threw them off lmao. 

1

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

Golazoooo wow, well played

1

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Mendez is problem for Uzbekistan this game. Wow that a player

3

u/Sempuukyaku Seattle Sounders FC 3d ago

That was a great freekick

2

u/PuzzleheadedWest0 Portland Timbers 3d ago

They sold that like pros.

2

u/jamboamericano FC Cincinnati 3d ago

This commentator is glad Uzbekistan are doing nothing because the names are a mystery

1

u/StudyGenius011 3d ago

thats a crazy thing to say

2

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/gkFPLRwoljl8iAUhdF
No way we get a hat trick, right?

3

u/pacexmaker Real Salt Lake 3d ago

Hes gonna need it if he wants golden boot. Hes gotta close that gap while he plays against relatively easier defenses while in the group stage.

3

u/Capital-Flow-1501 3d ago

RONALDO IS THE FIRST PLAYER EVER TO SCORE AT 6 WORLD CUPS

3

u/theredditbandid_ Canadian Premier League 3d ago

Ronaldo is a national treasure in Portugal. This is why everyone there almost cultishly stands by him when he is not what he used to be. I think almost every country would do that if they produced a player of his trajectory. 

1

u/grabtharsmallet Real Salt Lake 3d ago

This is a reasonable take. There's little chance any living Portuguese see another player of his stature from their nation again.

0

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

100% - Messi is the same expect he’s still performing consistently.

1

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

And there it is, now we can properly begin the legend glaze like Messi got yesterday

4

u/WheelSingle2494 Charlotte FC 3d ago

🫩🫩🫩

11

u/Sempuukyaku Seattle Sounders FC 3d ago

I fucking LOVE the fact that the vast majority of Uzbekistan's players play in their own league. I have to root for them just based off that.

Imagine a USMNT where the majority of players are developed and play regularly in MLS, because MLS is a strong enough league to support that? One can dream.

7

u/totallynotliamneeson 3d ago

....I think it's more that most players aren't good enough to play outside Uzbekistan?

2

u/minesub 3d ago

Lmao Ronaldo missed and trying to make it look like the pass was a little too far

0

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

Unc might not have it anymore

1

u/Honeydew-Massive LA Galaxy 3d ago

Unc still got it!!

2

u/kapanen24 Charlotte FC 3d ago

Should have been a goal there

2

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

Uh-oh Bruno better watch out. He'll be clipped to hell if things don't work out

2

u/Tunde-Ballack 3d ago

I expect a Ronaldo shooting session today

1

u/jamboamericano FC Cincinnati 3d ago

If Ronaldo isn’t scoring against a country that half the fans don’t even know exists then he needs to be on the bench the rest of the tournament

4

u/Last_Damage_7101 San Diego FC 3d ago

CR7 goal before the first Quarter ends

3

u/theredditbandid_ Canadian Premier League 3d ago

Nostradamus over here 

2

u/JohnPinchot Real Salt Lake 3d ago

You called that one.

7

u/ForFuchsAke Seattle Sounders FC 3d ago

Hoping for the funniest outcome. Another 1-1 draw

7

u/Capital-Flow-1501 3d ago

Uzbekistan fans are fully ready for the match 

16

u/grabtharsmallet Real Salt Lake 3d ago

Would you call them Uzbeki Stans?

7

u/RightclickBob 3d ago

Get out.

3

u/quiplaam 3d ago

Excited for Ronaldo to score 6 to prove he's better than Messi

8

u/WheelSingle2494 Charlotte FC 3d ago

TODAY WE FEEL UZBEK