Ronaldo’s Record-Breaker Leads Portugal to 5-0 Rout of Armenia
Portugal opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in dominant fashion, cruising to a 5-0 victory over Armenia in Yerevan.
The match was an emotional one for the Portuguese squad, coming just days after the tragic deaths of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a car accident. A minute’s silence was observed before kickoff in their memory.
Cristiano Ronaldo, now 40, delivered a standout performance, netting twice — including a stunning long-range strike in the second half — to extend his record international goal tally to 140.
His Al Nassr teammate also made a strong impact, scoring a brace, with his second coming via a smart back-heel finish in the 61st minute.
João Cancelo added his name to the scoresheet as well, commemorating his goal by pointing to the sky in a tribute to Jota’s signature celebration.
The comprehensive win places Portugal at the top of Group F.
Elsewhere, England maintained their unbeaten run in Group K with a 2-0 win over Andorra, courtesy of an own goal from Christian Garcia and a header from Declan Rice. Despite the result, England’s performance drew criticism for lacking energy and creativity.
In Group F, the Republic of Ireland and Hungary are set to clash in a late fixture.
Meanwhile, Serbia secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Latvia, moving them into second place in Group K with seven points.
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