Cristiano Ronaldo Edges Closer to Another Historic Record After Brace Against Armenia

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to redefine greatness. The Portuguese legend netted twice as Portugal cruised to a commanding 5-0 victory over Armenia in Yerevan during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Ronaldo's brace takes his tally to 38 goals in World Cup qualifying matches, putting him just one goal behind the all-time record holder Carlos Ruiz of Guatemala. Close on their heels is Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s eternal rival, who sits third with 36 goals in World Cup qualifiers.

At 40, Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down. He now boasts an astonishing 140 goals in 222 appearances for the Portuguese national team. Across both club and international competitions, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored an incredible 942 career goals, inching ever closer to the mythical 1,000-goal mark.