Portugal Dominates Armenia 5-0 with Ronaldo Scoring Twice in World Cup Qualifier

Cristiano Ronaldo continued his prolific scoring form as Portugal began their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a dominant 5-0 victory over Armenia, in which he scored twice, bringing his international tally to 139 goals. Portugal, fresh off their 2025 UEFA Nations League triumph, showcased strong attacking play under coach Roberto Martinez, with Joao Felix also netting two goals. Ronaldo is aiming to surpass Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz as the all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifiers, currently holding 36 goals in UEFA qualifiers compared to Ruiz’s 39 globally. Despite his age of 40, Ronaldo remains a key figure for Portugal, recently becoming the first player to score 100 competitive goals for four different clubs, and is expected to feature prominently in the World Cup qualifying matches against Armenia, Hungary, and Ireland. However, some critics, like former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol, question whether Ronaldo should start for Portugal in the 2026 World Cup, contrasting his impact with that of Lionel Messi. Portugal’s campaign continues with further qualifiers, where Ronaldo will look to extend his remarkable scoring records and help secure qualification for the tournament in North America.