Portuguese teammates collectively stepped up to phase out Ronaldo as they dominated Armenia 9-1 at home, securing direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup.

At 10 PM Beijing time on November 16, during the 6th round of the European World Cup qualifiers Group F, Portugal played Armenia at home, with Ronaldo suspended following a red card for an elbow in the last match.

In this match, Portugal’s whole squad gave their all, taking a 5-1 lead by halftime and adding 4 more goals in the second half to finish with a 9-1 rout of Armenia, securing their spot in the 2026 USA-Mexico-Canada World Cup. Bruno Fernandes and João Neves both scored hat-tricks, while Vega, Gonçalo Ramos, and Concessão also found the net. Among Portugal’s starting eleven, except the goalkeeper Costa who had little to do, all ten outfield players earned ratings above 7, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a perfect 10 and João Neves 9.9. Without Ronaldo, Portugal once again displayed smooth, exceptional football with fluid attacking play.

Fans joked that with Ronaldo absent, Portugal won by eight goals, suggesting that sometimes being the team leader means knowing when to step aside, as holding on too long can seriously harm the team. When veterans yield, the team blossoms and accelerates overall.

Other fans remarked: This was Ronaldo’s most embarrassing match of the year, as every goal Portugal scored felt like a stab to his pride.

It must be said that this Portugal squad is a strong contender for the 2026 USA-Mexico-Canada World Cup title—this is the Portugal without Ronaldo. Perhaps the team’s intense performance against Armenia was a silent message in the locker room, a collective way to encourage Ronaldo to step down.Without 40-year-old Ronaldo, Portugal could become even stronger. Do you agree with this view?