Armenia Vs Portugal Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Ronaldo Falls Short Of Hat-Trick As POR Crush ARM 5-0

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Armenia vs Portugal in the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers, stay tuned for all the live updates.

The Armenia vs Portugal clash will air on the Sony Sports Network and will also be available to stream live on SonyLiv.

Armenia: Ognjen Chancharevich, Arsen Beglaryan, Henri Avagyan, Sergei Muradian, Erik Piloyan, Georgii Arutiunian, Albert Khachumyan, Kamo Hovhannisyan, Erik Simonyan, Edgar Grigoryan, UgochukwuIwu, Eduard Spertsyan, Edgar Sevikyan, Artur Serobyan, Lucas Zelarayán, Tigran Barseghyan, Narek Aghasaryan, Hovhannes Harutyunyan, Artak Dashyan, Nayair Tiknizyan, Vahan Bichakhchyan, Grant-Leon Ranos, Zhirayr Shaghoyan

Portugal: Diogo Costa, José Sá, Rui Silva, Nuno Tavares, Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva, Renato Veiga, Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Mendes, João Cancelo, João Palhinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Pedro Gonçalves, João Neves, Ruben Neves, Vitinha, Cristiano Ronaldo, Goncalo Ramos, João Félix, Francisco Trincão, Francisco Conceicao, Pedro Neto

Armenia XI

Starting XI:
16 Avagyan, 2 Muradyan, 4 Harutyunyan, 21 Tiknizyan, 3 Piloyan, 8 Spertsyan, 6 Iwu, 23 Bichakhchyan, 13 Hovhannisyan, 10 Zelarayán, 11 Barseghyan

Substitutes:
20 Dashyan, 9 Serobyan, 22 Shaghoyan, 17 Ranos, 1 Cancarevic, 14 Simonyan, 7 Sevikyan, 12 Beglaryan, 15 Aghasaryan, 19 Grigoryan, 5 Khachumyan, 18 Harutyunyan

The crowd roars as the players step onto the pitch, the atmosphere building to a crescendo. Cristiano Ronaldo comes in to a thunderous cheer, all eyes on him as the national anthems are underway.

The stadium falls into a hushed reverence as both Armenia and Portugal come together for a minute of silence, paying tribute to the late Diogo Jota. Players bow their heads, fans stand in solemn respect, an emotional start before the clash kicks off.

And we are underway! Portugal get us rolling in Yerevan, charging right-to-left on your screens. The crowd is buzzing as the ball rolls, Armenia and Portugal both looking to stamp their authority early.

Portugal are dominating possession early, probing Armenia’s defense patiently. Cristiano Ronaldo tests the waters with a curling effort from outside the box on the left, but Avagyan is alert and collects it comfortably.

Portugal make their early dominance count. After some slick passing and pressure inside the Armenia box, Joao Felix rises above the defenders and thunders a header straight into the net. The stadium erupts as Portugal take the lead, and Ronaldo can be seen celebrating with his teammates, an early statement of intent from the visitors.

Armenia push forward as Spertsyan takes a shot, but it deflects off the wall, earning a corner on the right. The delivery is whipped in, but Portugal’s defense stands firm, clearing the danger with ease.

The stadium holds its breath, and the moment arrives. Pedro Neto floats in a brilliant cross from the right, and Ronaldo rises above the defense, planting a precise right-footed shot into the bottom left corner.

The crowd erupts as Portugal double their lead, and Ronaldo celebrates with his signature pose, soaking in the adulation. Armenia’s players look stunned, knowing they’re up against one of football’s all-time greats on his record-breaking night.

Portugal are running riot in Yerevan! Joao Cancelo arrives in the box and smashes a tidy left-footed strike into the bottom left corner. Armenia’s defense is carved open once again, and the visitors are cruising with a 3-0 lead.

Despite sitting on a commanding lead, Portugal aren’t easing off one bit. Wave after wave, they press Armenia’s shaky backline, hungry for more goals. A statement win tonight would be the perfect boost for their 2026 World Cup charge.

Hovhannisyan bursts down the flank with acres of space, driving dangerously into Portugal’s half. He cuts a pass across the face of goal, but no red shirt is there to meet it, much to the frustration of the home fans.

Fernandes is brought down by Iwu, giving Portugal a free kick deep in Armenian territory. As they set up for the delivery, the fourth official’s board goes up, two extra minutes to play before the break.

The referee blows for the break, and Portugal head into the dressing room in a commanding position. Goals from Felix, Ronaldo, and Cancelo have them cruising, and Ronaldo must be delighted with how his side have bossed the opening half.

We’re back for the second act! Armenia get us underway, staring at a huge mountain if they’re to find a way back into this game. Portugal, meanwhile, make a switch at the restart, Francisco Trincão comes on to replace Neto.

What a start to the half! Ronaldo bursts down the left with that trademark pace, cuts inside and unleashes a thunderous strike towards the far post. Avagyan stretches in vain, but the ball screams past him into the net. Absolutely sublime from the Portuguese captain, his second of the night and Portugal’s fourth.

The ball falls to Bruno Fernandes just outside the box, slightly right of centre. He lets fly towards the far post, but it drifts agonizingly wide. Portugal remain dominant, but that one just misses.

Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the pitch to a chorus of cheers, making way for Goncalo Ramos. Manager Roberto Martinez gives his final tactical instructions as the young forward steps in, ready to make his mark.

Portugal aren’t letting up! Felix finds the net again, claiming his second of the night to make it 5-0. The Armenian defense is stretched to breaking point as the visitors continue to dominate.

Portugal and Armenia both come close to adding to the score in quick succession. Tigran Barseghyan fires a right-footed effort from outside the box, but Diogo Costa is equal to it, diving low to his left to make a solid save. Moments later, Pote curls a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, only for it to drift just wide. Despite these chances, Portugal’s dominance remains clear.

Play was briefly halted due to an injury to Armenia’s Henri Avagyan, but the delay is over, and both teams are ready to continue.

Cristiano Ronaldo is chasing yet another individual milestone. Already joint-second with Lionel Messi on the all-time World Cup qualifiers scorers list, he was just three goals shy of Guatemalan Carlos Ruiz’s record of 39. With his brace tonight, Ronaldo has now closed the gap and is just one goal away from equaling Ruiz’s record.

With time running down, Portugal are easing off the accelerator, content to protect their clean sheet. Armenia push forward, desperate for a late goal to salvage some pride after a tough night for the home side and their fans.

Neves meets a low cross from Ramos on the left, redirecting the ball toward the near post. Avagyan stretches every inch, tipping it away with his fingertips to keep Armenia in the game. Portugal nearly double the danger from the resulting corner, with Ramos’ deflected effort grazing the far post, just inches away from extending the lead further.

That’s a wrap from Yerevan! Portugal finish strong with a 5-0 win over Armenia, Ronaldo shining with a brace, and the team cruising to a commanding victory. We’ll be back with another live blog soon, until then, goodbye and see you next time.