Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Sunday, November 16, 2025 8:05 p.m. / Updated Sunday, November 16, 2025 8:23 p.m.
Portugal comfortably cruised to a 9-1 victory over Armenia to finish top of Group F, three points ahead of Ireland. The Lusitanians absolutely dominated even without Cristiano Ronaldo, absent after the incident in the previous match.
Bruno Fernandes, the captain of Manchester United, was the man of the evening: the “eighth” of the national team managed a hat-trick, while Renato Veiga, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Neves (with a “triple”) and Francisco Conceicao completed the offensive recital.
Cristiano Ronaldo's message before and after the qualification
Despite the absence, Ronaldo sent a mobilizing message to his teammates ahead of the duel with Armenia:
“Come on, team! All together, today and always! For Portugal and for our flag!”
After the clear victory and qualification for the World Cup, Cristiano reacted again:
WE ARE AT THE WORLD CUP! COME ON, PORTUGAL!
– the Lusitanian conveyed via social networks
Why Ronaldo did not play: the first red of his career with the national team
Cristiano Ronaldo was absent due to the elimination suffered in the previous match, in Dublin.
In the lost match against Ireland, 0-2, the Lusitanian superstar was eliminated in the 61st minute for unsportsmanlike behavior, the striker elbowing his opponent directly.
It was the first red card in Ronaldo's national career.
CR7, towards the sixth World Cup in his career
Ronaldo is set to become one of the very few footballers in history to tick off six editions of the World Cup.
He will be 41 at the 2026 tournament but continues to play consistently at Al-Nassr, where he has extended his contract.
Cristiano Ronaldo's career
Arriving in Saudi Arabia from January 2023, at Al-Nassr, Ronaldo continued his fabulous form: 103 goals and 21 assists in 116 official matches, according to trasnfermarkt.com.
Throughout his career, the Portuguese superstar played for Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr, as well as 226 matches for the national team, during which he managed to score 143 times.
