Cristiano Leads Portugal with Two Goals, Continues Historic Rivalry with Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a dominant performance, scoring twice as Portugal began their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a victory. The veteran forward found the net at the 21st and 46th minutes of the match played at the Republican Stadium Vazgen Sargsyan,contributing to a brilliant start in Group F for Portugal. João Félix also scored a brace, including a notable “taco jewel,” and João Cancelo added another goal to the tally.
This latest display further cements Ronaldo’s legendary status. He has now scored five goals in his last four games for Portugal, and in Euro qualifying matches, he exceeds Lionel Messi by three goals, boasting 39 to Messi’s 36. This ongoing statistical battle between the two icons continues to captivate football fans worldwide.
Ronaldo recently signed a new contract with Saudi club Al Nassr and also captained Portugal to victory in the UEFA Nations League. The World Cup remains the one major trophy missing from his remarkable collection, a distinction held by his long-time rival, Lionel Messi, who led argentina to World Cup glory in 2022.
Looking ahead, the next World Cup, hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, likely represents Cristiano’s final opportunity to claim the coveted title. Both he and Messi would be participating in their sixth World Cup, a feat unmatched by any other player in history.
Reflecting on their enduring rivalry, Ronaldo previously stated, “If you like Cristiano, you don’t have to hate Messi or vice versa. We are both very good and WE CHANGE THE HISTORY OF FOOTBALL.They respect us worldwide. The legacy continues.”
England Secures Victory, But Struggles to Impress
In other qualifying action, England maintained their perfect record with a 2-0 win against Andorra at Villa Park in Birmingham. Goals from Christian García (an own goal) and Declan Rice secured the victory for the team, placing them at the top of group K with four consecutive wins.Though, England’s performance was far from convincing. Manager Thomas Tuchel made ten changes to the starting lineup, and despite an enhancement, the team still faced challenges against Andorra, currently ranked 174th in the world.
Harry Kane, England’s all-time leading goalscorer, was unable to find the back of the net, missing a clear opportunity in the first half. the team’s recent form has drawn criticism, with a previous 1-0 victory against Andorra on June 7th described by a British newspaper as “the worst from England,” followed by a 3-1 loss to Senegal in a friendly.
Serbia also secured a 1-0 victory against Latvia in Group K, climbing to second place in the table. England is scheduled to play Serbia on Tuesday.