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CRISTIANO RONALDO SECURES SIXTH WORLD CUP APPEARANCE AS PORTUGAL QUALIFIES

Portugal qualifies for the 2026 World Cup with a record 9-1 demolition of Armenia. Bruno Fernandes & Joao Neves scored hat-tricks, ensuring Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in a historic 6th World Cup despite his suspension.

Cristiano Ronaldo secures sixth World Cup appearance as Portugal qualifies
The 40-year-old set for record 6th World Cup - Photo Credit: AP

Cristiano Ronaldo is going to another World Cup after Portugal defeated Armenia 9-1 on Sunday to guarantee a spot in the event that will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.

Due to his suspension, Ronaldo was unable to play in Porto; nonetheless, Portugal made sure he would still be able to participate in a record-breaking sixth World Cup.

By the time the competition begins in June of next year, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will be 41, and Ronaldo has stated that this will be his final attempt to win the one major championship that has eluded him. He is anticipated to be included in coach Roberto Martinez's team if he stays healthy, but after being sent off in Portugal's 2-0 loss to Ireland on Thursday, he might still receive a two-match suspension.

Portugal needed to defeat Armenia to secure the top spot in Group F after that unexpected loss, and Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves' hat-tricks made sure there would be no mistakes.

Martinez told broadcaster RTP, "Today we saw our team back to its best: devoted, supportive, and executing the game plan well."

Hungary lost 3-2 in Budapest after a spectacular late comeback from Ireland, which cost them the opportunity to pass Portugal at the top of the group.

Troy Parrott equalised in the 80th minute and scored the game-winning goal in the sixth minute of extra time. Ireland will go to the playoffs after finishing in second position, thanks to their victory.

If both Ronaldo and his fierce rival Lionel Messi participate in the competition next year, they will both make their sixth World Cup appearance.

They will outperform legends like Lothar Mattheus of Germany, who made an appearance in five.

Argentina, the reigning champion, has already guaranteed their spot.

Messi guided Argentina to the championship in Qatar in 2022, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

In addition to five Champions Leagues and league wins in England, Spain, and Italy, Ronaldo has won the European Championship and two Nations League crowns with Portugal. He has yet to add a World Cup to his trophy collection.

He has proceeded to add further embellishments to his incredible career, despite the fact that he is nearing the end of it and has left top-flight European football to play in Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this year, he guided Portugal to the Nations League, and last month, he scored 41 goals to take the lead in World Cup qualifying matches.

He missed the opportunity to increase that total on Sunday due to suspension, but Portugal scored plenty of goals without him.

Fernandes scored two penalties as part of his hat trick. Neves scored twice in the first half and added a goal in the 81st to complete his trifecta.

A thrilling comeback in Hungary and a postseason berth marked the end of an incredible week for Ireland.

Parrott sealed second place for the Irish with a late winner, his fifth goal in two games.

He scored both goals in the 2-0 victory over Portugal, and he once again proved to be his nation's hero at the Puskas Arena, where Ireland was behind 2-1 heading into the 80th minute.

He first levelled the score at 2-2 by lifting the ball over Hungary's goalie Denes Dibusz. Deep into extra time, with the clock ticking, he scored the game-winning goal from close range.

WHY DID CRISTIANO RONALDO CRY? LUKA MODRIC EXPOSES JOSE MOURINHO’S HARSHEST LECTURE

Luka Modric reveals Jose Mourinho once reduced Cristiano Ronaldo to tears at Real Madrid for failing to track back defensively.

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Modric and Balague confirm the 2013 Valencia clash that shattered Real’s locker room

Luka Modric says that Jose Mourinho once gave Cristiano Ronaldo such a harsh lecture that the guy was in tears.

Ronaldo, who's 40 now, played really well under Mourinho, who's 62. They were together at Real Madrid for three seasons, but apparently, they didn't always get along off the field.

Even though things got off to a slow start, the Portuguese superstar still managed to score 168 goals in 164 games while playing for Mourinho. He also helped Mourinho win three trophies in his first two seasons.

But get this: even with superstars like Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria on his team, Mourinho was still super critical of Ronaldo's effort on defense.

Modric, who Mourinho signed from Tottenham back in 2013, told a story about one argument that made Ronaldo cry. Apparently, it was because he didn't chase after his assigned player.

"I saw him make Cristiano Ronaldo cry in the locker room," Modric told Corriere della Sera, an Italian news outlet. Can you believe it? A guy who always gives it his all on the field, and he's getting yelled at because he didn't chase some defender.

Modric moved to Real Madrid in 2013 and only played under Mourinho for a year.

Modric, who played alongside Kaka and Mesut Ozil in the midfield after arriving for a big £33 million, didn't say which game the argument happened in.

Guillem Balague, a Spanish soccer journalist, wrote in Ronaldo's biography that Ronaldo and Mourinho almost fought after Mourinho yelled at him in the locker room following a 2-0 win against Valencia in January 2013.

Mourinho was mad because Ronaldo didn't seem willing to help out on defense during the game. And Ronaldo supposedly replied, After everything I've done for you, this is how you treat me? How dare you say that to me!

Later that season, which turned out to be Mourinho's last with the team, Ronaldo was constantly asked about Mourinho's future. "I don't care," he said once. What I care about is my own future and the club.

This was a big change from earlier that year, when Mourinho said before the 2012 Ballon d'Or race, If Messi is the best on the planet, Ronaldo is the best in the universe!

After Mourinho left Real Madrid, he went on Spanish TV to talk about what caused the problems between him and Ronaldo.

"I only had one problem with him," he said. It was simple. When a coach gives a player feedback on tactics, they are trying to help them get better, in my opinion. He didn't take it well because he probably thinks he knows everything, and the coach can't help him.

Mourinho also said that they didn't really have a relationship. But time seemed to fix things, as he later said that coaching Ronaldo was the best thing that ever happened in his career.

Ronaldo also seemed to warm up to Mourinho later on, even saying that he was the best coach he ever had, even better than Sir Alex Ferguson. "I'd put him at the top; I always say that," Ronaldo said.

Ronaldo scored 168 goals in 164 games while playing for Mourinho during their three years together.

Even though Modric didn't win any trophies in his first season at Madrid, he was so impressed by Mourinho that he repeated something Mourinho famously said about himself.

He's special, as a coach and as a person, Modric said. He was the one who wanted me at Real Madrid. I wouldn't have come without him. I'm sad I only had him for one season.

Modric spent 13 years at Real Madrid, mostly managed by Carlo Ancelotti. Now he's at AC Milan and managed by Massimiliano Allegri. But he says Mourinho is the toughest of the three.

He added, "Mourinho is really direct with the players, but he's honest." He treated Sergio Ramos and new players the same way. If he had something to say, he'd say it. Max is the same way. He tells you what's right and wrong to your face. Honesty is key.

Modric also shared his opinion on the never-ending debate of who's better, Lionel Messi or Ronaldo, but said he doesn't really like talking about it.

"I don't like that question," he said. They both defined an era. I'm closer to Cristiano because I played with him; he was my teammate at Madrid, and I can tell you he's not just a great player, he's an amazing person. People don't know it, but he has a big heart and is always ready to help others. He's just a simple, normal guy.

He added, "I don't know Messi personally, but I'm sure he's great too." As a player, he's incredible.

CELTIC FANS DEMAND BOARD SACK WILFRIED NANCY AFTER SHOCK MOTHERWELL DEFEAT TONIGHT

Wilfried Nancy dismisses sack talk after Celtic's 2-0 loss at Motherwell. With Rangers closing in, the Old Firm looms large.

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Wilfried Nancy’s future on the line after fifth loss in seven

After Celtic's fifth loss in seven games under his leadership, Wilfried Nancy brushed off ideas that Saturday's Old Firm game would decide his future.

Tuesday's match at Fir Park, called 'El Passico' due to both teams' open play styles, saw Motherwell outperform the Frenchman's team. Ibrahim Said and Elliot Watt scored on either side of halftime.

The 2-0 defeat, Celtic's 17th this year, meant Hearts stayed three points ahead in the league, while Rangers closed in, now just three points behind Nancy's squad after a 2-1 victory over St Mirren.

At the end of the game, visiting fans chanted for the board to be sacked, and some even demanded the manager's immediate dismissal. When asked if his first derby was a make-or-break moment, Nancy responded, No, not really. Every game matters to me and the team.

I'm not focused on my future. I'm focusing on what I'm doing now, what I need to do to help the team get better, and what we need to do as a team to improve. That's how I see it.

When asked if he understood the fans' deep worry about the lack of progress during his time, Nancy was indignant.

Progress? "There is progress," he insisted. But tonight, the situation and the opponent were tough.

This is a fact. Now, we need to figure out how to get better, and that's what we've been working on from the start. Tonight was rough. That's the truth.

When questioned about feeling the pressure after such a bad start as the champion's manager, Nancy added, As a manager, I don't want this, obviously.

Pressure doesn't change how I think. We know we have to perform well.

But right now, this is how it is. I knew it could be like this. We've had good games at times. Tonight was a hard one.

Regarding whether he was sure he could turn things around, Nancy said, Yes, I'm sure. I had to make some choices about the team tonight. I believe in what we're trying to do and where we're going. This was a hard game, difficult for us, but I think we'll improve.

Motherwell's manager, Jens Berthel Askou, praised his team, saying it was probably their best game of the season.

"We knew we'd probably need our best, most solid, and most complete performance, both with and without the ball, to win," he said.

We've had really big and good performances, but they haven't led to wins against Rangers or Celtic. So, that's what we got, and that's what we needed. It was amazing to see.

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