India, June 24 -- Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his doubters with a brilliant brace against Uzbekistan. With questions mounting over his place in Portugal's starting XI, the captain responded in style, scoring twice in the 5-0 victory. He looked much sharper inside the box than he did against DR Congo, finding the right positions and finishing with the composure that has been his trademark throughout his career. The goals also brought visible relief for Ronaldo, who had been under pressure to prove he could still deliver on the biggest stage. As the final whistle blew after Portugal's emphatic World Cup win on Tuesday, Ronaldo had a simple but powerful message for everyone watching.

"I'm back," he said directly into the television camera. "...