Ronaldo Equals World Cup Qualifier Goal Record as Portugal Beats Hungary

Cristiano Ronaldo equalled the all-time record for most goals in World Cup qualifying matches by scoring his 39th goal during Portugal's dramatic 3-2 victory over Hungary in their 2026 World Cup qualifier. The match, held at the Puskas Arena, saw Hungary take early leads through Barnabas Varga, who scored twice, but Portugal responded with goals from Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo (penalty), and a late winner by Joao Cancelo. Ronaldo, aged 40, also extended his international tally to 141 goals in 223 appearances, the highest for any male Portuguese player. Portugal maintained their perfect start in Group F with six points from two matches, sitting atop the group ahead of Armenia and Hungary. The match highlighted Ronaldo's quest to become the first player to feature in six different World Cup finals and showcased Portugal's resilience in securing a win despite Hungary's spirited performance. Hungary, despite efficient finishing, missed the chance to earn a point on home ground.