Portugal's place in the 2026 World Cup schedule still has a twist to it: they face Colombia in the final Group K game, and a win is the route to finishing first and avoiding Croatia in the last 32. Colombia are already through, but the result still decides the knockout path.
Micah Richards summed up the Ronaldo angle on Radio 5 Live with a line built for the stage: "Ronaldo is 41, at the World Cup, and still scoring goals." He added: "Everyone has this debate about him or Messi, can't we just enjoy them both?" and called them "Two absolute generational talents that we get to see at the World Cup."
Cristiano Ronaldo and Group K
Cristiano Ronaldo is part of the Portugal side facing Colombia, and the group table leaves Portugal with one clear task. Win, and they go top of Group K. Fail to do that, and the bracket shifts away from the route that sends them to Croatia in the last 32.
The final Group K round is being played on both fronts. Congo DR meet Uzbekistan in the other match, which matters because a DR Congo win would set up an England tie in the last 32. That keeps the knockout map moving while Portugal and Colombia settle first place.
Uzbekistan's slim route
Uzbekistan still have a mathematical chance of reaching the last 32, but their position is narrow even if they win tonight. Their group numbers show why the margin is so thin: Colombia beat Uzbekistan 3-1, and Fabio Cannavaro's side have conceded eight goals so far at this World Cup.
That defensive return sits against a wider trend. No team has conceded at least three goals in every match at its debut World Cup since New Zealand in 1982. Uzbekistan also managed only 11 touches in the opposition box across the opening two rounds, compared with Qatar's 9 touches across the opening two rounds, a reminder of how little attacking territory they have claimed.
England, Croatia and the bracket
Colombia's own group work is already done enough to keep them in the last 32, after a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan and a 1-0 win over DR Congo. What Portugal need now is not a calculation spread across several days, but a result tonight: beat Colombia, finish top, and take the Croatia path in the last 32.
For everyone else in Group K, the picture tightens around that single match. Portugal and Colombia shape the top of the group, Congo DR and Uzbekistan shape the other side of the final round, and the knockout draw will settle once those scores land.
