Ronaldo Intervenes to Calm Tensions After Portugal Teammate’s Celebration Sparks Fan Anger
BUDAPEST, Hungary – Cristiano Ronaldo apologized to Hungarian fans following a provocative celebration by teammate João Cancelo during Portugal’s 3-2 victory Tuesday in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match. Cancelo, making his first appearance for Portugal since late last year, and other portuguese players celebrated the winning goal in the 86th minute in a manner perceived as disrespectful by the home crowd at the Puskás Arena.
Ronaldo, 40, approached the Hungarian supporters in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, appearing in a widely circulated social media video to express his regret for his teammates’ actions and emphasize his respect for the fans.
The celebration occurred after Portugal secured their second consecutive qualifying win, having previously defeated Armenia 5-0. Ronaldo contributed to the victory with a goal from the penalty spot, bringing his international career total to 141 goals in 223 appearances – maintaining his position as the all-time leading international goalscorer.
Cancelo’s return to the Portuguese squad, coached by Roberto Martinez, came after a period of exclusion stemming from dressing room disputes and a perceived dip in form.
Portugal currently leads Group F with six points and will continue their qualifying campaign next month with matches against Ireland and Azerbaijan on october 11th and 14th, respectively.
