Portugal and Armenia performed their first match within the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, as they intention to safe a spot within the event set to happen subsequent 12 months in america, Mexico, and Canada. Cristiano Ronaldo scored two objectives for the guests.
Portugal’s path to the subsequent World Cup options three hurdles: Armenia, Hungary, and Eire. Of the 4 groups in Group F, just one will earn a direct ticket to the 2026 event, whereas the runner-up will get a shot by a playoff.
With that purpose in thoughts, Roberto Martinez‘s facet got here out targeted on Saturday, decided to indicate their superiority over the Armenians. And so they did so rapidly. Within the tenth minute, Joao Felix headed in a cross from Joao Cancelo to attain the opener, breaking the hosts’ resistance.
Simply 10 minutes later, Ronaldo made his mark. A cross from Joao Pedro on the proper discovered the Al Nassr striker on their lonesome within the field, and he wanted only a slight contact to double the lead. The third purpose got here within the thirtieth minute with a strike from Cancelo that gave goalkeeper Henri Avagyan no likelihood.
And as if that weren’t sufficient, firstly of the second half, Cristiano scored his second purpose. The ahead pounced on a rebound outdoors the field and unleashed a surprising right-footed strike that tucked contained in the far submit.
Ronaldo nears historic milestone
Cristiano Ronaldo’s objectives on Saturday in opposition to Armenia introduced his profession tally with Portugal in World Cup qualifiers to 38. That allowed him to maneuver previous Lionel Messi, who now trails with 36 objectives. However his rivalry with the Argentine star isn’t the one notable storyline right here.
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Ronaldo is now only one purpose away from turning into the all-time main scorer in World Cup qualifiers worldwide. The Portuguese ahead has already scored extra objectives in European qualifiers than another participant in historical past, and he’s closing in on Carlos Ruiz, who scored 39 objectives for Guatemala in Concacaf. With not less than 5 extra matches left earlier than the 2026 World Cup, CR7 has a powerful likelihood of breaking the document.
What’s subsequent for Portugal?
Saturday’s win in Armenia put Portugal on the high of Group F in European qualifying, pending the outcome between Eire and Hungary. On Matchday 2, Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates will as soon as once more be on the highway: they’ll go to Hungary on Tuesday, September 9, whereas Armenia will host Eire.
