No Ronaldo, no problem as Portugal thrash Luxembourg in record 9-0 win

Portugal’s all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo was suspended for the Euro 2024 qualifying match against Luxembourg on Monday, but his absence did not put a dent in the European giants’ performance as they triumphed with a resounding 9-0 victory, marking their largest win to date.  

In Ronaldo’s stead, his teammates stepped up and found the back of the net numerous times. Diogo Jota of Liverpool contributed with two goals, while Goncalo Inacio and Goncalo Ramos also made their mark on the scorecard. Notably, Joao Felix, who came off the bench, also managed to add to the tally. 

Portugal had previously held a record of 8-0, which they accomplished on three occasions. They achieved this feat twice against Liechtenstein in 1994 and 1999, and once against Kuwait in 2003.  

Under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, who assumed the managerial role in January, Portugal have emerged victorious in all six of their Group J matches. Impressively, they have scored 24 goals while not conceding a single one. Currently, they sit comfortably atop the group standings, boasting a five-point lead over Slovakia.

While undoubtedly enhanced with the presence of Ronaldo, their team remains well-equipped with alternative options. This abundance of choices represents a delightful luxury for the team to possess. 

One might argue that their opponents, Luxembourg, ranked 89th in the world, could be considered as abysmal minnows. But it is important to note that Luxembourg had accumulated 10 points from their previous five matches, placing them in the respectable third position in Group J. They had achieved impressive victories over Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iceland before facing Portugal.  

As a consequence of this resounding victory, Portugal will secure a ticket to the Euro 2024 with three games to spare, should they emerge victorious in their upcoming home match against second-placed Slovakia and Luxembourg fail to win against Iceland.