In a heartfelt World Cup qualifying match, Cristiano Ronaldo once again showcased his legendary prowess by netting his 139th and 140th international goals. Portugal’s 5-0 triumph over Armenia marked their first outing since the tragic passing of Diogo Jota in a car accident last July. Paying homage to the beloved player, a minute’s envelope silenced the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in emotional tribute, with banners honoring Jota seen throughout the stands.
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João Félix set the tone by opening the scoring just 10 minutes in. Ronaldo then converted Pedro Neto’s masterful cross, Portugal putting up by two. In a touching nod to his late teammate, João Cancelo celebrated by mirroring Jota’s signature video game celebration. Ronaldo’s second-half screamer from a distance reaffirmed his status, while Al-Nassr’s own Félix closed the match with another goal, sealing Portugal’s dominant performance.
Elsewhere in the qualifiers, the Republic of Ireland scrapped their way back from a 2-0 deficit to snatch a 2-2 draw against a 10-man Hungary. A last-minute header from Adam Idah, who came off the bench, salvaged a crucial point for the Irish. Initially here, Hungary took the lead with goals from Barnabas Varga and Roland Sallai, but the latter’s dismissal opened the door for Ireland’s dramatic comeback by Roma’s Evan Ferguson to narrow the gap and Idah’s equalizer.
Serbia, meanwhile, still have their sights on England in Group K after securing a slim 1-0 victory over Latvia, thanks to Dusan Vlahovic’s well-struck 12th-minute goal. With five points separating them from group leaders England, the upcoming clash in Belgrade is crucial for keeping their World Cup dreams alive.
In the African section, Nigeria kept their World Cup hopes intact with a narrow 1-0 victory against Rwanda. Tolu Arokodare dazzled with an acrobatic 50th-minute winner, propelling Nigeria closer to group leaders South Africa and second-place Benin. With just three games remaining, the stakes are high as teams vie for automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup in North America.
With each goal and nail-biting moment, the World Cup 2026 qualifiers are heating up. Stay ahead of the game with 12BET Soccer Tips, your source for expert insights and predictions as teams race towards soccer’s grandest stage.