Portugal kicked off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in stunning fashion, cruising to a 5-0 victory over Armenia on Saturday evening.
The match carried extra emotion as the Selecao paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix leading the charge in Yerevan.
Joao Felix opened the scoring inside 10 minutes, heading home from a pinpoint Joao Cancelo cross to settle any early nerves. Just moments later, Cristiano Ronaldo doubled Portugal’s lead, diverting Pedro Neto’s dangerous delivery with trademark precision. Cancelo soon added a goal of his own, smashing in from the heart of the penalty area to make it 3-0 before the break.
Ronaldo, at 40 years old, showed he remains unstoppable on the international stage. The Portuguese captain produced the highlight of the night just seconds into the second half, unleashing a thunderous half-volley from 25 yards that left Armenia goalkeeper Henri Avagyan with no chance.
Although denied a hat-trick by the woodwork and withdrawn on the hour mark, Ronaldo’s impact was undeniable. Felix capped off the night with a spectacular scorpion flick to seal the emphatic 5-0 win.
Roberto Martinez’s side now sit top of their group, proving that Portugal’s golden generation is still very much alive and ready to honor Jota’s memory with purpose and passion.
