Tonight’s match in Yerevan is a huge deal for many. Roughly 14,000 fans are expected at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium. They’ll be there to watch Armenia take on Portugal. This game kicks off Portugal’s journey in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. Most locals are eager to see Cristiano Ronaldo up close, decked out in Portugal’s colors. But a special trip brought two young brothers from far away, just for this moment.
Record was right there, outside the stadium, and caught up with them. Miron, 19, and Grisha, 16, are Russian. They traveled all the way from Moscow, a journey of about 1,800 kilometers or a three-hour flight. Their parents aren’t big football fans. So, this isn’t just any game for them. It’s the very first time Miron and Grisha have ever attended a live football match in a stadium. Talk about starting with a bang!
Miron, the older brother, spoke for both of them since Grisha was a bit shy. "We are super excited," he shared. "He’s our absolute favorite player. We saw he was coming to Armenia, and since it’s close to Russia, we just had to come." They almost saw him before. "We had a shot at the 2018 World Cup back home," Miron explained. "But we waited too long for tickets and ended up missing every game." For them, this was a now-or-never situation. "He’s a true legend. And with him already being 40, it felt like our last chance."
These brothers are firmly in Portugal’s corner. "We always support Portugal," Miron declared. "Mainly because of Cristiano Ronaldo, of course, but also for the other talented players." He even picked out some current favorites. "My top guy right now is Bruno Fernandes. I also really like João Félix." What if Russia played Portugal, though? Miron laughed at the thought. "That would be a tough choice! I guess I’d try to support both Ronaldo and Russia at the same time."
When it came to predicting the score, Miron was confident. He thinks Ronaldo will find the net again in Yerevan. He remembered Ronaldo’s last visit about ten years ago. Back then, at 30 and in his prime, Ronaldo scored a hat-trick. "I think he’ll get at least one goal," Miron said with a grin. Grisha, losing his shyness, quickly chimed in with more ambition: "He’ll score two or three!" Here’s hoping the brothers get the show they traveled so far to see.