With Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi all having announced themselves in their respective opening games of World Cup 2026, Wednesday evening gave Cristiano Ronaldo the opportunity to match their exploits.

In a thrilling finish, 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi scored a dramatic late goal to secure a 1-0 victory for Ghana over Panama in their World Cup opener. His strike not only marked a significant milestone in his young career but also broke a 16-year record for the latest goal scored by the Black Stars in World Cup history.

Uzbekistan head coach Fabio Cannavaro expressed immense pride in his team’s performance despite their 3-1 loss to Colombia in their World Cup Group K opener. He commended his players' efforts amidst a challenging atmosphere at the Azteca Stadium.