The Portugal National Team wrapped up their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in style, delivering a stunning 9–1 victory over Armenia — and they did it without their suspended captain, the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo. Even without their biggest star, Portugal showed depth, power and ruthless attacking quality.

The opening stages hinted at a competitive match. After an early strike from Gonçalo Guedes Veiga, Armenia hit back through a precise finish from Eduard Spertsyan, bringing the game to 1–1 midway through the first half. But that was as close as the visitors would get. Before the break, the match turned into a demolition: Gonçalo Ramos, a quick-fire double from Rúben Neves and a clinical effort from Bruno Fernandes stretched the gap to a commanding 5–1.

The second half was more of the same. Bruno Fernandes and Rúben Neves continued to torment the Armenian defense, each completing a hat-trick in a standout performance for Portugal’s midfield engine room. Francisco Conceição added the ninth, sealing one of the most dominant results of the entire European qualifying cycle.

No Ronaldo? No problem. The scoreline itself — 9–1 — says everything about Portugal’s depth and ambition heading into 2026.

FIFA World Cup 2026, Qualifiers

Portugal - Armenia 9:1 (5:1)
Goals: Veiga, 7 (1:0); Spertsyan, 18 (1:1); Ramos G., 28 (2:1); Neves J. P., 30 (3:1); Neves J. P., 41 (4:1); Fernandes B., 45 (penalty) (5:1); Fernandes B., 51 (6:1); Fernandes B., 72 (penalty) (7:1); Neves J. P., 81 (8:1); Conceicao F., 92 (9:1)

Portugal: Costa D.; Semedo N.; Dias R. (Ruben Neves, 73); Veiga; Cancelo (Matheus Nunes, 73); Vitinha F. (Félix J., 67); Fernandes B.; Bernardo Silva (Forbs, 56); Neves J. P.; Ramos G.; Rafael Leão (Conceicao F., 56)
Substitution: Conceicao F. (from 56); Forbs (from 56); Félix J. (from 67); Matheus Nunes (from 73); Ruben Neves (from 73)
Bench: José Sá; Rui Silva; Silva A.; Dalot; Inacio; Palhinha; Trincão

Armenia: Avagyan; Muradyan S. (Bandikyan, 82); Piloyan (Harutyunyan G., 55); Mkrtchyan St.; Hovhannisyan K.; Aghasaryan Narek (Sevikyan, 46); Spertsyan; Muradyan K.; Tiknizyan; Serobyan Artur (Shaghoyan, 46); Ranos (Eloyan, 65)
Substitution: Sevikyan (from 46); Shaghoyan (from 46); Harutyunyan G. (from 55); Eloyan (from 65); Bandikyan (from 82)
Bench: Čančarević; Beglaryan; Grigoryan; Nalbandyan; Manvelyan; Tarakhchyan; Grigoryan N.
Yellow Cards: Muradyan S. 70