João Neves and Bruno Fernandes scored three goals each when Portugal humiliated Armenia 9-1 in a World Cup Qualifier at Estádio do Dragão on Sunday, 16 November 2025.
The decisive victory cemented Portugal’s spot in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite the absence of their captain and goal poacher, Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal still managed to score nine goals in the showdown.
Neves found the back of the net in the 30th minute, scoring Portugal’s third goal of the showdown. The PSG star scored his second of the match in the 41st minute, changing the score to 4-1. Neves also scored in the 81st minute, changing the score to 8-1.
Fernandes, who assisted Neves in the 30th minute, converted from the spot in the 45+3 minute, giving Portugal an unbelievable 5-1 lead going into the halftime break.
The Manchester United star scored his second goal of the showdown in the 52nd minute, altering the score to 6-1. Goncalo Ramos, who made it 2-1 in the 28th minute, got an assist when Fernandes scored.
Fernandes converted his second penalty of the match in the 72nd minute, making it 7-1 in favour of Portugal. Second-half substitute Francisco Conceicao scored Portugal’s last goal in the 90+3 minute.
Renato Veiga had scored Portugal’s first goal in the 7th minute. Veiga also registered an assist when Neves scored Portugal’s eighth goal.
Eduard Spertsyan scored Armenia’s consolation goal when he equalised in the 18th minute.
Portugal topped Group F with 13 points after six matches. They scored a whopping 20 goals and only conceded seven. Armenia finished last with only three points to their name. They won only one match and lost five.
Portugal vs Armenia: Official Lineups
Portugal’s Starting XI:
Diogo Costa (G), Nelson Semedo, Ruban Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Goncalo Ramos, Bernardo Silva, Renato Veiga, João Neves, Rafael Leao, João Cancelo, and Vitinha.
Armenia’s Starting XI:
Sergey Muradyan, Erik Piloyan, Styopa Mkrtchyan, Eduard Spertsyan, Artur Serobyan, Kamo Hovhannisyan, Henri Avagyan (G), Grant-Leon Ranos, Narek Aghasaryan, and Karen Muradyan.
Portugal Latest Results
In their previous World Cup Qualifier on 13 November 2025, Portugal were stunned 2-0 by Ireland. AZ Alkmaar forward Troy Parrott found the back of the net twice in the clash.
Parrott put the home side in the lead in the 17th minute after heading in a cross from Liam Scales. He extended Ireland’s lead in the 45th minute when he beat the keeper with a fine strike from inside the box.
Portugal’s goal poacher and captain Cristiano Ronaldo got sent off in the 61st minute after a VAR review found that his late tackle deserved a red card instead of the initial yellow card.
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Armenia Latest Results
In their last World Cup Qualifier on 13 November 2025, Armenia lost 1-0 to Hungary. Barnabas Varga found the back of the net in the 33rd minute.
In-form Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai assisted Varga when he headed in the only goal of the match.
Also Read: Bafana Bafana qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after thrashing Rwanda 3-0
Portugal vs Armenia: Head-to-Head
In their last World Cup Qualifier on 6 September 2025, Portugal thrashed Armenia 5-0 in their own backyard. João Felix and Ronaldo scored braces in the showdown.
Felix opened the scoring in the 10th minute and netted Portugal’s fifth goal in the 61st minute. Ronaldo scored his country’s second goal in the 21st minute and the fourth in the 46th minute.
Al Hilal defender João Cancelo scored Portugal’s third goal in the 32nd minute. Portugal secured maximum points after their decisive victory.
In a EURO Qualifier on 13 June 2015, 10-man Portugal edged Armenia 3-2. Ronaldo put on a man-of-the-match performance on the day, scoring all of Portugal’s goals.
The superstar converted a penalty in the 29th minute, levelling the score to 1-1. He then found the back of the net in the 55th minute and scored his third goal three minutes later.
Marcos Pizzelli netted for Armenia in the 14th minute, and Hrayr Mkoyan made it 3-2 in the 72nd minute.
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