Cristiano Ronaldo found the net twice, but Portugal was forced to settle for a draw against Hungary, missing the chance to confirm their place at the 2026 World Cup.
The 40-year-old overtook former Guatemala striker Carlos Ruiz to set a new benchmark for goals in World Cup qualifying. His two strikes took him to 41 in total, surpassing Ruiz’s tally of 39.
The match ended level, leaving Portugal five points clear at the top of Group F with two fixtures still to be played. A win would have secured their qualification, just as England did after a 5-0 victory over Latvia in Group K.
Hungary strike late to frustrate leaders
The visitors made an early breakthrough in Lisbon when Attila Szalai finished off a pass from Dominik Szoboszlai in the eighth minute.
Portugal responded midway through the first half. Nelson Semedo delivered a low ball from the right, which Ronaldo turned in from close range to equalize in the 22nd minute.
Ronaldo struck again just before the interval, calmly finishing after Nuno Mendes set him up, registering the 948th goal of his career and his 143rd for the national team.
Hungary, however, refused to fold. Deep into stoppage time, Szoboszlai struck a dramatic equalizer to keep their hopes of topping the group intact.
Qualification still in Portugal’s hands
Despite the late setback, Portugal remains in a commanding position. Their next opportunity to book a World Cup spot comes on 13 November, when they face the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
Hungary occupies second place in the group, one point clear of Ireland. The Irish side boosted their chances with a narrow 1-0 home win over Armenia.
Ronaldo’s long journey with Portugal
Over more than two decades on the international stage, Ronaldo has been a key figure for his country. He lifted the European Championship trophy in 2016 and won the UEFA Nations League twice.
The furthest Portugal has gone at a World Cup during his career was the semi-final in 2006. They were beaten by France in the last four before losing to Germany in the third-place match.