Poignant Portugal cruise in first match since Diogo Jota’s death

PARIS – Cristiano Ronaldo helped an emotional Portugal enjoy a perfect start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Sept 6.

Portugal, playing for the first time since the death of their Liverpool forward Diogo Jota along with his brother Andre Silva in a car accident, took an impressive first step to the Finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada by sweeping aside Armenia 5-0 in Yerevan.

Both teams observed one minute’s silence before kick-off at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in tribute to

Jota and his brother, who were killed in a crash

in northern Spain on July 3, 11 days after Jota had married Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo was in sparkling form, Portugal’s irrepressible 40-year-old talisman scoring in either half, the second a sizzling shot from distance, to take his record international tally to 140 goals, over two decades after his first.

A brace from Joao Felix, Ronaldo’s new teammate at Saudi side Al-Nassr, and a contribution from another Saudi-based player Joao Cancelo lifted Roberto Martinez’s Nations League winners top of Group F.

Cancelo marked his goal by pointing to the skies with both hands in memory of Jota’s goal celebration.

Lazio left-back Nuno Tavares believed Ronaldo’s 21st-minute goal held special significance as 21 was the shirt number worn by Jota when playing for his country.

“We’re all very happy because it shows he’s (Jota) with us, that he was there, and that moment, Ronaldo’s goal, was made possible. He’ll always be with us, as was clear today,” said the defender.

Martinez added: “Diogo Jota is with us. Being able to score in the 21st minute was special. We continue on our journey. I really believe (in coincidences). Diogo’s spirit is with us, it was a sign, in the 21st minute and we scored.

“We felt Diogo Jota from the first day of the training camp and his strength and motivation.”

Ronaldo said on social media that it was the “first step taken” in his quest to appear at a sixth World Cup.

Portugal’s next opponents on Sept 9 are Hungary, who despite playing the last 30 minutes a man down, secured a 2-2 draw in Dublin against Ireland.

Hungary were on their way to take all three points until Adam Idah’s equaliser in the third minute of added time for the hosts.

Elsewhere on Sept 6, a sinkhole discovered on the pitch during Austria’s 1-0 home victory over Cyprus in Linz forced play to be halted late in the match.

After 75 minutes a football-sized sinkhole was seen just outside Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager’s penalty area.

Danish referee Jakob Kehlet stopped play for several minutes as ground staff at the Raiffeisen Arena rushed to cover the hole and ensure the pitch was safe.

Remarkably, this was not the first time Austria have faced pitch troubles. In 2022, a sinkhole also appeared during their Nations League match against Denmark in Vienna. AFP, REUTERS