Portugal Rout Armenia 9-1 Without Ronaldo as Hat-Trick Heroes Seal World Cup Spot

Portugal secured their place at the 2026 World Cup in emphatic fashion, dismantling Armenia 9-1 at the Estadio do Dragao. The victory, coming without the services of their iconic star Cristiano Ronaldo following his red card in the previous match against Ireland, showcased the attacking prowess of the Seleccao, particularly highlighted by hat-tricks from midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves.

The match began nervously for Portugal, whose fans voiced displeasure after just seven minutes when Eduard Sperstian bundled the ball home from close range to grab Armenia's equaliser following a defensive lapse. However, the Portuguese response was swift and decisive. Just moments after a minute's applause was held for the late Diogo Jota, Goncalo Ramos intercepted a poor pass and fired Portugal back into the lead.

The first-half turned into a procession for the home side. Joao Neves doubled the advantage with a powerful strike before the half-hour mark, then curled a magnificent free-kick just beyond the Armenian goalkeeper midway through the half. Further penalties ensured, as Ruben Dias was fouled, and captain Fernandes confidently converted the spot-kick in stoppage time, making it 4-1 at the break.

After the interval, Portugal continued their dominance. Fernandes swept home his third goal of the match in the 51st minute, capitalizing on good work from Ramos, before adding a second penalty later on after substitute Carlos Forbs was brought down. As the game progressed, the impressive Neves completed his hat-trick with an acrobatic finish, leaving substitute Francisco Conceicao to slot home the final scoreline of 9-1 in the dying embers.

Player Ratings

Goalkeeper & Defence

Diogo Costa (6/10): Made few saves in a largely uneventful performance, other than saving Armenia's first goal.

Nelson Semedo (6/10): Lacked concentration at a crucial moment, contributing to Armenia's surprise equaliser.

Ruben Dias (7/10): Solid defensively, although errors allowed the Armenian goal. Secured a vital penalty in the first half.

Renato Veiga (7/10): Made an impact with a timely header for Portugal's opening goal. Needs to perform against tougher opposition.

Midfield

Joao Neves (10/10): Absolutely electrifying performance. Scored with both foot and free-kick to record a magnificent hat-trick.

Vitinha (8/10): Directed Portugal's midfield attack with authority and composure throughout.

Bruno Fernandes (9/10): Led the line for Portugal's attack with his free-kick goal, penalties, and a composed finish. Deserved a hat-trick.

Attack

Goncalo Ramos (8/10): A calm and intelligent performance, crucially scoring the interception goal and providing a key assist.

Rafael Leao (6/10): Showed flashes of his pace and power but lacked consistent application.

Joao Felix (5/10): Made an appearance in his 50th cap but had little statistical or visual impact.

Substitutes & Manager

Carlos Forbs (7/10): Immediately made an impact, contributing an assist and a penalty win.

Francisco Conceicao (8/10): A lively cameo, contributing defensively and finishing confidently.

Roberto Martinez (7/10): Praised the final outcome despite frustration over conceding against Armenia. The impact of his substitutes was significant.