The Real Madrid star returned to international weekend with style, opening the scoring after just 70 seconds before adding a further three later in the game
Cristiano Ronaldo scored four on his Portugal return in a 6-0 World Cup qualifying victory over nine-man Andorra at the Estadio Municipal de Aveiro.
In his first international appearance since limping off in the Euro 2016 final win over France, Ronaldo helped soften the blow of Portugal’s opening-game 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in Group B.
The Real Madrid star, back from a knee injury, led by example on Friday as the captain netted twice in the opening three minutes to leave Andorra reeling.
Koldo Alvarez’s men, who only lost their group opener 1-0 to Latvia, sometimes resorted to heavy-handed tactics in a bid to limit Portugal’s dominance, but it had little impact.
Joao Cancelo’s deft finish extended the hosts’ advantage on the stroke of the interval, with Ronaldo securing the match ball at the start of the second half.
The visitors’ night got worse when Jordi Rubio was dismissed for a second booking and Ronaldo scored again to take his international goal tally to 65, while Marc Rebes followed his team-mate down the tunnel soon after to compound their woes.
Andre Silva’s maiden international goal completed the scoring late on and Portugal will now turn their attention to Monday’s trip to take on Faroe Islands.
The opener came in the second minute as Ronaldo volleyed home from inside the box after goalkeeper Josep Gomes flapped at a corner.
He headed in a second from Ricardo Quaresma’s searching cross two minutes later to set the tone for the evening.