Ronaldo Scores Twice as Portugal Wins Armenia World Cup Qualifier

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal began their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a commanding 5-0 victory over Armenia, bringing his official career goal tally to 942 and extending his record as the highest scorer in men's international football to 140 goals. The match was emotionally significant for Portugal, held shortly after the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota, with a moment of silence observed before kickoff. Ronaldo, now 40 and recently signed with Saudi club Al Nassr, continues to pursue a record sixth World Cup appearance, a milestone he shares with rival Lionel Messi. Alongside Ronaldo, teammates João Félix and João Cancelo, also Saudi Pro League players, contributed goals, reaffirming Portugal's status as favorites in their qualifying group. Portugal's strong start reflects their ambitions to capture the one major trophy that has eluded Ronaldo, with the upcoming 2026 tournament in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico likely his last chance. England also maintained a perfect record in qualifying with a 2-0 win over Andorra, highlighting competitive group dynamics in the World Cup qualifiers.