FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – Cristiano Ronaldo scores a hat-trick as Portugal thrash Luxembourg 5-0, climb to 2nd in Group A- Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick as Portugal cruised past Luxembourg 5-0 in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday to stay close to group leader Serbia. This is Ronaldo’s 10th International Hat-trick, the most by any footballer in internationa football.
Serbia kept a one-point cushion at the top of Group A by defeating last-place Azerbaijan 3-1 at home. It has 17 points, one more than Portugal, which has a game in hand.
Serbia’s last game is in Portugal in November. Portugal, which has won four in a row in qualifying, will play in Ireland before the decisive match against the Serbians.
Ronaldo on Record Breaking Spree
- Most International Hat-tricks: RONALDO clinched another world record as he scored his TENTH international hat-trick.
- The veteran now has 115 goals for Portugal, having netted in Saturday’s 3-0 drubbing of Qatar.
- Most International Goals: Ronaldo has broken Iran’s legend Ali Daei’s record of 109 international goals last month, also set another record at the weekend.
- Most International Caps by a European Player: The win against Qatar was his 181st appearance for Portugal. And it saw him move above ex-Real Madrid team-mate Sergio Ramos for most international caps won by a European player. But he still has some way to go to catch the holder, Soh Chin Ann. He boasts the most with an incredible 195 caps for Malaysia.
𝙎𝙄𝙄𝙄𝙄𝙄𝙄𝙄𝙄𝙄𝙄-NCO! 🇵🇹 🙌 Desafio superado com sucesso, o vosso apoio foi fundamental! #VamosComTudo pic.twitter.com/dbpNZ96lfx
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) October 12, 2021
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Cristiano Ronaldo scores a hat-trick as Portugal thrash Luxembourg 5-0, climb to 2nd in Group A
Cristiano Ronaldo took his record scoring tally to 115 international goals by converting two early penalty kicks and finding the net again near the end. Bruno Fernandes and João Palhinha also scored for Portugal.
Bernardo Silva was fouled to prompt the first penalty in the eighth minute, while Ronaldo himself was brought down inside the area before converting the second penalty in the 13th. He had to retake it, though, after André Silva entered the area too early.
Cristiano Ronaldo also struck the post a few minutes later, and in the 18th Fernandes added to the lead after being set up by Bernardo Silva.
Palhinha scored the fourth in the 69th, moments after Ronaldo came close with a bicycle kick that was saved by Luxembourg goalkeeper Anthony Moris.
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