A RecordSetting Night Ends in Late Drama
The UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers delivered high drama on Tuesday night as Portugal were held to a frustrating 22 draw by a resilient Hungary side The match however was not without its historic moment as legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo shattered another international record becoming the alltime leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup qualifying history Despite the 40yearold captains firsthalf double the late equaliser by Liverpools Dominik Szoboszlai meant that Portugals anticipated qualification celebration was put on hold for the time being .
Ronaldo Reaches New Heights in Qualifying Goals
Before the contest the spotlight was firmly on Cristiano Ronaldo who was on the cusp of setting a new goalscoring benchmark The Portuguese talisman did not disappoint After Hungary took a surprising early lead Ronaldo scored Portugals equalising goal in the 22nd minute with a clinical finish from a Nelson Semedo cross This strike was his 40th in World Cup qualifying matches officially surpassing the previous record of 39 goals held by former Guatemala international Carlos Ruiz .
Also Read : Kanu s Detention Crisis Sowore Issues Aso Rock March Ultimatum to Nigerian Government
Not content with merely setting the record Ronaldo extended his new benchmark just before the halftime whistle Converting a cross from Nuno Mendes his second goal of the night took his tally to a remarkable 41 goals in his World Cup qualifying career Furthermore the brace extended his own alltime record for mens international goals to a staggering 143 Even at the age of 40 the AlNassr striker proved that his predatory instinct and matchwinning ability remain potent on the international stage continuing his quest to play in a recordextending sixth World Cup .
Match Report Hungarys Resilience Denies Portugal
The match at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon proved to be an endtoend contest providing excitement from the first whistle It was the visitors who stunned the home crowd just eight minutes in when defender Attila Szalai headed home from a Dominik Szoboszlai corner .
Rondos quickfire double first in the 22nd minute and then in firsthalf stoppage time saw Portugal go into the break with a deserved 21 lead seemingly on course to secure their qualification for the 2026 tournament to be held in the United States Mexico and Canada .
In the second half Portugals manager Roberto Martinez sought to manage the game making substitutions including taking off the recordbreaker Ronaldo in the 78th minute However Hungary who are hoping to qualify for their first World Cup since 1986 continued to press and demonstrated incredible resilience Their efforts were dramatically rewarded in the final minutes of the game .
In the 91st minute of stoppage time a low cross found its way through the Portuguese penalty area to the back post where Hungarys captain and star midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai arrived to slot home a dramatic late equaliser The goal sent the travelling Hungarian fans into raptures and silenced the Portuguese supporters as the final 22 scoreline meant the home side was denied an early ticket to the World Cup .
Group Standings and Qualification Path
Despite the disappointing late draw Portugal remains in a strong position atop Group F leading secondplace Hungary by five points with only two group games left to play The team now requires just one point from their remaining fixtures in November—against the Republic of Ireland and Armenia—to officially secure their spot at the 2026 World Cup finals .
The outcome of the match while delaying Portugals celebrations keeps Hungarys hopes alive for a top-two finish and potential qualification or a playoff spot demonstrating the competitive nature of the qualification process .
Conclusion Focus Shifts to November
While the record books were rewritten by Cristiano Ronaldo the main objective of securing early qualification remains incomplete for Portugal The team will undoubtedly reflect on the defensive lapse that allowed Hungary back into the game in the dying moments Nevertheless the monumental achievement by their 40yearold captain serves as a powerful reminder of his enduring class and commitment to the national team Manager Roberto Martinez will now refocus his squad on the November international window where they have two opportunities to cross the finish line and confirm their presence at the next global tournament .
Dynamic Disclaimer
Disclaimer The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources concerning the 2026 World Cup Qualifier match Readers should crosscheck updates and final qualification details from official news outlets and FIFAUEFA communications .