Goal machine Cristiano Ronaldo broke records and scored twice as Portugal defeated Armenia 5-0 in their WC Qualifiers opening on Saturday night, starting his quest for a sixth FIFA World Cup finals appearance with typical flair.
Joao Felix, a teammate from Al-Nassr, gave Portugal the lead in the tenth minute, but Ronaldo doubled it in the twenty-first minute with his 139th goal for his country. The 40-year-old skillfully ducked past his opponent to make a close-range connection on a cross.
Felix’s cut-back pass to Joao Cancelo in the 32nd minute increased Portugal’s lead to three goals. Ronaldo netted his second goal with a spectacular long-range shot that soared into the net just one minute into the second half. Henri Avagyan, the Armenian goalie, barely touched the ball, but he couldn’t halt its strong flight.
With his 140th goal for Portugal, Ronaldo moved past long-time rival Lionel Messi on the all-time FIFA World Cup qualifiers scoring chart, climbing to 38 goals in 48 appearances—surpassing the Argentinian superstar’s tally of 36 in 72 matches.
With four games remaining in the qualifiers, Ronaldo will be well-positioned to top the standings when the UEFA Nations League winners play Hungary later next week. With 39 goals in 47 games, Carlos Ruiz of Guatemala is the only player with more goals in WC qualifying than Ronaldo.
As the Portuguese prepared for their first game since the untimely death of star striker Diogo Jota in a vehicle accident in July, the encounter at Yerevan Stadium was a painful evening for them. Jota’s signature video game celebration was used by defender Cancelo to celebrate his goal.
Portugal’s left-back Ronaldo’s goal in the 21st minute, according to Nuno Tavares, was particularly significant since it paid homage to Jota, who represented the country in the number 21 jersey.
“We’re all very happy because it shows he’s with us, that he was there, and that moment, Ronaldo’s goal, was made possible. He’ll always be with us, as was clear today,” the defender said.
Ronaldo also claimed on social media that this win was the “first step taken” toward his goal of competing in the sixth World Cup the following year.
