This time, however, Cannavaro is on the sidelines. The former defender, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, is now in charge of the Uzbekistan national team in their first-ever appearance at a World Cup, adding a new chapter to a rivalry that began back in the 2004/05 Champions League.
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That season, Cristiano Ronaldo, then a young prospect at Manchester United, faced Cannavaro’s Juventus in the round of 16 of the European competition. More than two decades later, the roles have changed.
The Portuguese star is still playing at 41 years old, while the Italian is trying to bring the same personality that made him one of the greatest defenders in history to his coaching career. And Cannavaro seems to have found in Abdukodir Khusanov a player whose style is reminiscent of his own days as a centre-back.
Quick in covering, aggressive in one-on-one duels, and with great anticipation, the Manchester City defender is seen as the main reference for the Uzbekistan national team and one of the country’s most talented players. Not surprisingly, he has become a key part of the defensive system set up by the Italian coach.
Uzbekistan’s debut ended in a 3-1 defeat to Colombia, but Khusanov was one of the most involved players. The defender played the full 90 minutes, was constantly duelling with Luis Díaz, and received a yellow card in the 34th minute while trying to stop the Colombian striker.
Despite the negative result, the Asian team showed defensive organisation at several moments and even managed to equalise before conceding two late goals.
FIFA World Cup 2026
The 2026 World Cup is taking place from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament features 48 national teams and is played at 16 modern stadiums.
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CR7 under pressure
On the Portuguese side, Cristiano Ronaldo comes into the match under pressure after a quiet performance in the 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The number 7 had the fewest involvements among the Portuguese players who played the full match.
He had just 25 touches and completed 19 out of 21 passes. The striker took three shots, but none were on target. Portugal also finished the game without creating a single clear chance, a stat that set off alarm bells for Roberto Martínez’s team.
Portugal’s attacking struggles stood in contrast to the performances of other World Cup stars, and Cristiano’s display drew criticism from the international press. The veteran is now looking to respond precisely against the team led by one of the greatest defenders he faced in his career.
If in 2005 Cannavaro was the man tasked with stopping the young Cristiano Ronaldo, in 2026 that mission falls to a protégé shaped in the coach’s image. Khusanov represents the new generation of Uzbek football and carries traits that made the Italian a global reference in the position.
The clash between Portugal and Uzbekistan, therefore, promises to go beyond the battle for points in Group K: it will also be a meeting of past and present, with Cristiano Ronaldo facing the coach who was once his rival and the defender who is trying to follow in his footsteps.