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Cristiano Ronaldo Outshines Lionel Messi in World Cup Qualifiers

On September 7, 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo demonstrated his remarkable skill, even at the age of 40, by scoring twice for Portugal against Armenia in a 5-0 victory.

Ronaldo’s first goal was a straightforward tap-in, but the second was a stunning long-range strike on the half-volley, showcasing his exceptional talent as he hit the ball with precision and power. This achievement marked his 139th and 140th international goals, extending his own record and surpassing Lionel Messi’s World Cup qualifiers goal tally. Ronaldo is now second only to Carlos Ruiz from Guatemala in terms of goals scored during World Cup qualifying matches.

Portugal’s Dominant Start in World Cup Qualifiers

Ronaldo achieved his 38 goals in just 48 matches, a significantly shorter span compared to Messi’s 72 matches. With Argentina’s qualifiers concluded, Messi won’t have further opportunities to add to his tally. Meanwhile, Ronaldo continues his pursuit of surpassing Ruiz’s record, with Robert Lewandowski also in the running, having scored 31 goals in qualifiers so far.

Portugal’s commanding victory also saw Joao Felix scoring twice and Joao Cancelo contributing the fifth goal. The team is set to face Hungary at Budapest’s Puskas Arena in their next qualifying match. Portugal is favored to top their group, alongside Ireland, and looks to secure their qualification with more convincing wins.