All five goals were scored by Portugal, in Armenia, but they had a distinctly Roshn Saudi League feel.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup hopefuls opened their qualification account with a thumping 5-0 victory on Saturday night, with Al Nassr duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix each bagging a brace and Al Hilal’s Joao Cancelo netting the other.
Cancelo, meanwhile, was not the only Al Hilal player celebrating on the international scene these past few days: Darwin Nunez’s Uruguay and Yassine Bono’s Morocco both booked their place at next summer’s World Cup. Indeed, Morocco became the first African country to do so.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal teammate Kalidou Koulibaly was among the goals, the defender opening the scoring for Senegal in their 2-0 win at home to Sudan. The hosts’ side also featured Al Ahli goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Al Nassr forward Sadio Mane.
There was joy, too, for Al Ahli’s Riyad Mahrez, Al Ittihad’s Houssem Aouar and NEOM SC’s Said Benrahma, the Algeria trio playing their part in the North Africans’ 3-1 home victory against Botswana.
Elsewhere, Al Ahli midfielder Franck Kessie helped guide Cote d’Ivoire to a 1-0 win against Burundi, while Al Kholood and Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong played his part in his national team’s vitally important triumph against qualification rivals Rwanda.
There was good news, as well, for Al Taawoun striker Musa Barrow, who was on target as Gambia saw off Kenya, and new Damac recruit Morlaye Sylla, who featured in Guinea’s 3-0 win against Somalia.
Back in European qualification, Al Khaleej midfielder Dimitrios Kourbelis scored the final goal in Greece’s 5-1 win at home to Belarus, while Al Qadsiah frontman Mateo Retegui registered his second brace on the bounce.
And, last but certainly not least, there was plenty to cheer for Merih Demiral, the Al Ahli defender manning the Turkiye defence in their 3-2 win in Georgia.
