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Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy age and expectations, delivering another world-class performance as Portugal crushed Armenia 5-0 in their opening World Cup qualifying clash. The 40-year-old superstar bagged a brace, further cementing his legacy as international football’s all-time leading scorer with 140 goals.
The emphatic win in Yerevan not only set the tone for Portugal’s qualification campaign but also underlined Ronaldo’s relentless pursuit of a record sixth World Cup appearance.
Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal’s dominant display
Portugal wasted no time asserting control at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, with Joao Felix finding the net just 10 minutes into the match. Cristiano Ronaldo then doubled the lead with his trademark finishing, celebrating emotionally by pointing to the sky in tribute to late teammate Diogo Jota.
The second half saw the Portuguese captain roll back the years, firing home a thunderous strike from nearly 25 meters to seal his brace. His celebration, arms stretched wide, was symbolic of a man still hungry for the one trophy missing from his illustrious collection — the FIFA World Cup.
Joao Felix struck again to complete his brace, while Joao Cancelo added his name to the scoresheet. Midfielder Vitinha summed up the team’s performance, saying:
“It was a near-perfect performance.”
Honoring Diogo Jota
This fixture marked Portugal’s first outing since the tragic passing of former international Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident earlier this year. The emotional weight of the occasion was evident in the celebrations.
After Cristiano Ronaldo’s opening goal, Cancelo paid tribute by performing Jota’s trademark video game celebration, sitting with crossed legs and pretending to hold a controller. Midfielder Joao Neves reflected on the tribute:
“Diogo will always be with us. Celebrating Joao Cancelo was a beautiful moment.”
Road to a historic sixth World Cup
Having already conquered the European Championship and five Champions League titles, Ronaldo’s sights are firmly set on the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Should he and Lionel Messi both feature, they would become the first players in history to appear at six editions of the tournament.
With his contract at Al Nassr secured and Portugal boasting a mix of seasoned stars and rising talents, the pathway to another World Cup looks promising. Saturday’s display was a statement that Portugal, led by their evergreen captain, remains a force to be reckoned with.
Portugal’s Group F journey
The 5-0 victory places Portugal in pole position in Group F as they chase early qualification. The squad’s depth, from Cristiano Ronaldo’s leadership to the youthful energy of Felix and Neves, highlights a team capable of blending experience with flair.
As Vitinha stressed, it was not just about the scoreline but the mentality: “It was about winning, giving everything.”
Portugal’s next fixtures will be crucial in maintaining momentum, but with Ronaldo still at his peak, their ambitions of lifting the World Cup no longer seem far-fetched.
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