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Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream of playing in a record sixth FIFA World Cup got off to a strong start as he scored twice in Portugal’s emphatic 5-0 win over Armenia in their opening Group F qualifier on Saturday.
The 40-year-old forward extended his world record to 140 international goals, reaffirming his hunger to compete at the highest level even in the twilight of his career. His second goal — a thunderous strike from around 25 meters — thrilled fans and symbolised his continued impact on the game.
Portugal’s dominant performance also featured a brace from Joao Felix, who opened the scoring in the 10th minute, and a goal from Joao Cancelo, as the team began their qualifying campaign with confidence.
Emotional tribute to Diogo Jota
The match was Portugal’s first since the tragic death of former player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident in July. After scoring, Ronaldo looked to the sky in tribute, while Cancelo celebrated with Jota’s signature gaming pose.
“Diogo will always be with us,” said midfielder Joao Neves, while teammate Vitinha added, “It was about winning, giving everything.”
England maintain perfect record but fail to convince
Over in Group K, England kept their 100% record with a 2-0 win over Andorra at Villa Park, but questions remain over their form under manager Thomas Tuchel.
An own goal by Christian Garcia and a Declan Rice header secured the victory, but England struggled to break down the 174th-ranked side, despite dominating possession. Harry Kane, England’s all-time top scorer, had a quiet night and missed a golden opportunity in the first half.
“The energy was right, quality was there. We should have scored more,” Tuchel admitted post-match.
England next face Serbia on Tuesday, which Tuchel called a “crucial” and “difficult away game.”
In the same group, Serbia beat Latvia 1-0 to climb to second place.
Ireland stage dramatic comeback against Hungary
Ireland produced a spirited comeback to draw 2-2 with Hungary at the Aviva Stadium. The visitors raced to an early 2-0 lead through Barnabas Varga and Roland Sallai, but goals from Evan Ferguson and a stoppage-time header by Adam Idah salvaged a point for the hosts.
Hungary was reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Sallai was sent off for a dangerous foul.
Group H: Dzeko double powers Bosnia, Austria stay in pursuit
Edin Dzeko showed he still has plenty to offer, scoring twice in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 6-0 rout of 10-man San Marino, keeping them top of Group H with 12 points from four matches.
Austria, just behind on nine points but with a game in hand, edged Cyprus 1-0 thanks to a Marcel Sabitzer penalty.
Injury blow for France and PSG
Paris Saint-Germain confirmed that French internationals Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue will be sidelined after picking up injuries while on national duty.
Dembele suffered a serious hamstring injury and is expected to be out for up to six weeks.
Doue strained his right calf and will miss around four weeks.
What’s next
Portugal will look to maintain momentum in Group F, while all eyes will be on England’s upcoming clash with Serbia. As both Ronaldo and Messi aim to set a historic milestone by playing in their sixth World Cup, the road to 2026 is already filled with drama, emotion, and high stakes.
