Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks world Cup Qualifying Record, But Hungary Deny Portugal immediate Qualification
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Lisbon, Portugal – In a thrilling encounter in lisbon, Cristiano Ronaldo cemented his legendary status by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA World cup Qualifying history. However, a dramatic late equalizer from Hungary dashed Portugal’s hopes of securing a direct berth to the 2026 World Cup on this FIFA date.
Early Setback, Historic Response
Hungary stunned the home crowd early, taking the lead in the 8th minute thru a header from Attila Szalai following a corner kick adn a shaky start for Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa. But the response was swift and decisive, spearheaded by the man himself, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo leveled the score in the 22nd minute, expertly finishing inside the area. This goal marked a historic moment, surpassing all previous players in goals scored during world Cup Qualifying campaigns. Before halftime, the Portuguese captain completed the turnaround, powerfully volleying home a stunning cross from Nuno Mendes to give Portugal a 2-1 lead.
The Numbers Behind the Legend
At 39 years old, Ronaldo now boasts an astonishing 41 goals in World Cup Qualifiers, with opportunities to extend that lead when Portugal travels to Ireland and hosts Armenia in November. His overall career goal tally stands at a remarkable 948, comprised of 143 goals for his national team and 805 at the club level. He remains just 52 goals shy of reaching the milestone of 1,000 career goals.
Late Drama and Delayed Qualification
Just as victory seemed assured, Hungary struck back in stoppage time. Dominic Szoboszlai scored a late equalizer, denying Portugal the outright qualification they sought. This result means Portugal will now have to wait until November to secure their place at the 2026 world Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Portugal currently tops Group F of the UEFA Qualifiers with 10 points, while Hungary sits in second place with five points. The race for qualification remains tight, promising a compelling finish to the campaign.
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