Cristiano Ronaldo began his pursuit of a sixth World Cup in spectacular fashion as he scored twice to help Portugal cruise to a 5-0 victory over Armenia.
The 40-year-old extended his record as the highest scorer in men’s international football to 140 goals, underlining his continued drive to break records as his remarkable career nears its final chapters.
Ronaldo, who recently signed a new contract with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, is yet to lift the one trophy that has eluded him. While he has enjoyed immense success at club and international level, including five Champions League titles and a European Championship, the World Cup remains the final missing piece. Lionel Messi, his longtime rival, claimed football’s biggest prize with Argentina in 2022, highlighting the narrow gap that still separates the two legends.
Next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico will likely be Ronaldo’s last opportunity to capture the coveted title. Like Messi, he will be aiming to appear at a sixth World Cup, a feat no other player has achieved, though several have competed in five tournaments.
Portugal dominated from the start at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, with Joao Felix opening the scoring after just 10 minutes. Ronaldo added a goal in each half, including a thunderous strike from 25 metres that drew widespread admiration. Joao Felix added a second, and Joao Cancelo also found the net as Portugal made a statement in Group F.
“It was a near-perfect performance,” said midfielder Vitinha, praising the team’s display.
