Cristiano Ronaldo made history again but left the pitch frustrated. The 40-year-old striker scored twice and set a new all-time World Cup qualifying record. Yet Portugal had to settle for a draw with Hungary, missing the chance to secure their 2026 World Cup spot.
A record written in goals
Ronaldo now holds 41 goals in World Cup qualifiers, surpassing former Guatemalan star Carlos Ruiz, who netted 39. His relentless scoring continues to redefine international football history. Despite his individual brilliance, Portugal’s night ended in disappointment.
Late heartbreak for Portugal
While England cruised past Latvia 5-0 to book their ticket from Group K, Portugal came close to doing the same in Group F. They led until the 91st minute when Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai silenced the Lisbon crowd with a dramatic equaliser. That goal denied Portugal the three points they needed for early qualification.
Portugal still lead Group F by five points, with two matches remaining. Their next chance comes on 13 November in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland.
Hungary strike first, Ronaldo responds
Hungary started stronger and stunned the home fans in the eighth minute. Attila Szalai converted after a clever pass from Szoboszlai. Portugal quickly regrouped. In the 22nd minute, Ronaldo found the net from close range after Nelson Semedo’s low cross from the right.
Ronaldo’s double not enough
Just before half-time, Ronaldo added his second of the night, his 948th career goal and 143rd for Portugal. He calmly finished from Nuno Mendes’ cross, putting his team in control. But Hungary refused to surrender. Szoboszlai struck late again to keep his country’s group hopes alive.
A glittering career continues
Ronaldo’s 22-year international career has brought Portugal historic success. He led his nation to their first European Championship in 2016 and two UEFA Nations League titles. However, the World Cup trophy remains out of reach. His best run came in 2006 when Portugal lost to France in the semi-finals and later fell to Germany in the third-place play-off.
Group standings tighten
Hungary remain second in Group F, one point ahead of the Republic of Ireland. The Irish kept their campaign alive with a 1-0 home win over Armenia.
Top scorers in World Cup qualifying
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): 41
- Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala): 39
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): 36
- Ali Daei (Iran): 35
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland): 32
