Portugal needed a swift reaction after their slip-up against Ireland – and they delivered it in an emphatic style against Armenia.
At a rain-drenched Estádio da Luz, the Seleção unleashed a historic 9–1 thrashing of Armenia, in a night filled with chants, conviction, and the notable absence of suspended Cristiano Ronaldo.
Even without their biggest star, Portugal dominated from start to finish. The victory not only sealed their qualification for the 2026 World Cup but also showcased a team brimming with rhythm, confidence, and a merciless attacking edge.
Goals pour down in Lisbon
Portugal took command immediately. Renato Veiga opened the scoring seven minutes in, pouncing on a loose ball to claim his first goal for the national side. Armenia briefly fought back as Eduard Spertsyan punished a defensive lapse to level at 1–1 in the 18th minute.
But that was as close as the visitors would get. A relentless Portugal flipped into full attacking mode. Gonçalo Ramos capitalized on high pressure to restore the lead, and Vitinha Neves quickly followed with two brilliant strikes to push the score to 4–1. In stoppage time of the first half, Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty earned by Rúben Dias, sending Portugal into the break up 5–1.
And like the weather, the goals kept coming.
Bruno Fernandes: captain, conductor, hat-trick hero
Wearing the armband, Bruno Fernandes delivered one of his finest performances for Portugal. He completed a superb hat-trick – finishing a Ramos assist early in the second half and slotting home another penalty in the 72nd minute – driving a team that played with freedom and flair.
Late on, Vitinha Neves secured a hat-trick of his own, and Francisco Conceição capped the night with Portugal’s ninth goal in stoppage time.
Moment of emotion in downpour
In the 21st minute, the stadium rose in a moving tribute to Diogo Jota, recently passed away—an emotional pause amid the storm and the goal avalanche.
Portugal marches towards 2026
With this commanding display, Portugal washed away any lingering doubts from their loss in Dublin. They’re headed to the 2026 World Cup—and perhaps more importantly, they’ve shown they can obliterate opponents even without Cristiano Ronaldo.
