LISBON: Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record as the top scorer in World Cup qualifying, but Portugal had to settle for a 2-2 draw as Hungary scored a late equaliser to delay their ticket to the 2026 tournament.
After Attila Szalai put the visitors ahead, two first-half goals from Ronaldo almost ensured Roberto Martinez’s side qualified early for the 2026 World Cup.
However, Dominik Szoboszlai emerged as Hungary’s hero when he equalised in injury time, reviving his country’s hopes of qualifying for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“We’re getting closer to our goal! Come on, Portugal!” Ronaldo said on the X platform after the match.
Martinez’s squad currently leads Group F with 10 points, five points ahead of Hungary.
“We failed to manage the game well in the last 10 minutes,” he admitted.
“If you don’t finish the game, you have to know how to control it until the final whistle. Today we stopped playing and Hungary punished us.”
Portugal had previously defeated Hungary in a dramatic five-goal thriller in Budapest and once again the opponents proved they were not an easy team to beat.
Hungary took the lead as early as the eighth minute when Szalai headed in Szoboszlai’s corner.
But Ronaldo, still leading the attack at the age of 40, quickly equalised from a pass from Nelson Semedo.
It was the Al-Nassr star’s 40th goal in the World Cup qualifying campaign – surpassing the record of Carlos Ruiz of Guatemala (39 goals).
Ronaldo added another goal before the break with a neat finish following a Nuno Mendes pass for the 143rd international goal of his career.