Portugal qualified for their 14th major tournament in a row last night, rubber-stamping their place at World Cup 2026 in style with a 9-1 trouncing of Armenia at Estádio do Dragão, in Porto.
In the absence of captain Cristiano Ronaldo, suspended after his red card versus Ireland in the previous qualifying match, midfielders Bruno Fernandes and João Neves took centre stage, each scoring a hat-trick.
In addition to his goals, Fernandes had a stupendous game, pulling the strings as the Seleção tore the Armenians apart. He was even asked post-match whether it was his best game in Portugal shirt.
“I think I’ve played more complete games than this one,” replied the Manchester United captain. “The difference was this time I scored and in the others I didn’t.
“I know I can bring goals and assists, but my role now is to help the striker and less about build-up play. I’m playing more in a No.10 and leaving the build-up to João Neves and Vitinha because that’s where their quality comes to the fore.”
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Do Portugal play better without Ronaldo?
The big talking point in Portugal after the match – for a change – centred around Cristiano Ronaldo, despite the fact CR7 was not even in Porto. After the match journalists, pundits, fans and analysts were involved in often heated discussions about whether or not Portugal play better without the captain.
Bruno was asked that very question in the flash interview. “Cristiano scores lots of goals for us. People like to talk about this, but he has done a lot for us. Ronaldo brings things [to the team] that the other players can’t. And the other players bring things that Ronaldo can’t.
“Everybody should be talked about in the same way. I always look at the game as a whole and we should forget this idea that the Seleção plays worse or plays better with this or that player. Everyone is important,” opined Fernandes.
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez was even more peremptory in his response to the same question. “Are the Seleção better without Ronaldo? No! No! We are better with Cristiano, we are better with Nuno Mendes, and we are better with Pedro Neto.” Mendes and Neto also missed the match, through injury.
“I think it’s important to have all the players available who are important for the Seleção. It’s important, but it’s also important to have confidence, and a clear idea that we can win even when certain players are not in the starting lineup,” added Martínez.
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Portugal scored nine goals in a qualifying match for the second time in two years, having thrashed Luxembourg 9-0 in the Algarve during Euro 2024 qualification. Curiously, Ronaldo did not play in that game either, as he was suspended.
It should not be forgotten that Ronaldo ended Portugal’s World Cup qualifying campaign as the Seleção’s top scorer with five goals in five games. Indeed, Ronaldo has scored at least one goal in six of his last eight games for Portugal, including crunch goals in the matches against Germany and Spain in the Nations League triumph earlier this year.
The debate will rage on but one thing is certain. Portugal will be heading to USA, Canada and Mexico with an embarrassment of riches and options to choose from as they chase the dream of lifting the World Cup for the first time.
