Friday, 21st August 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 7th September 2025, 7:43 AM
In a moving tribute to Diego Jota, the footballer who tragically passed away in a car accident last July, Portugal secured a resounding victory against Armenia. The memories of Jota were repeatedly evoked during celebrations by Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix, two stars of Al-Nassr, who brought their recent club form into the national team. Portugal dominated the match from start to finish, winning 5-0.
| Event | Detail |
| Competition | UEFA World Cup Qualifiers – European Zone |
| Match Date | Saturday, 6 September 2025 |
| Venue | Away – Armenia |
| Final Score | Armenia 0 – 5 Portugal |
| Possession | Portugal 71% |
| Total Shots | Portugal 24 (9 on target), Armenia 7 (3 on target) |
| Goal Scorers | Cristiano Ronaldo (2), João Félix (2), João Cancelo (1) |
Portugal started strongly, pressing Armenia from the outset. Within 10 minutes, the visitors took the lead. João Félix, replicating the form that earned him a hat-trick in his Al-Nassr debut, leapt to meet a cross from João Cancelo and headed the ball into the net.
Shortly afterwards, Cristiano Ronaldo added Portugal’s second goal, connecting with a floating pass from Pedro Neto to score with a precise touch. This goal marked Ronaldo’s fourth consecutive international match with a goal.
At the 32nd minute, Ronaldo’s attempt hit the Armenian goalkeeper, but the rebound was converted by João Cancelo, who celebrated the goal in a yoga-like pose in honour of Jota.
Early in the second half, Ronaldo struck a spectacular long-range goal from outside the box, a bullet-speed shot that the goalkeeper could not stop.
This goal brought Ronaldo’s international tally to 140 goals in 122 matches, including his 38th in World Cup qualifiers, the second-highest in history.
Félix scored again in the 61st minute, finishing a close-range effort after a deflection off an opponent. Ronaldo was substituted in the 58th minute for Gonçalo Ramos, ending his hopes of a hat-trick, but Portugal continued to dominate.
| Minute | Player | Action |
| 10’ | João Félix | Header goal from João Cancelo cross |
| 20’ | Cristiano Ronaldo | Goal from Pedro Neto’s floating pass |
| 32’ | João Cancelo | Goal from rebound, yoga-style celebration in tribute to Jota |
| 46’ | Cristiano Ronaldo | Long-range bullet shot goal |
| 61’ | João Félix | Second goal, ball deflected off defender |
In other Group F action, Hungary and Ireland drew 2-2, leaving Portugal at the top of the group with a perfect start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix’s stellar performance ensured that Portugal not only honoured the memory of Diego Jota but also sent a clear statement to the rest of the group with a dominant 5-0 victory.
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