Portugal rally beats Hungary 3-2 to top Group F

Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot as Portugal recovered from a first-half deficit to beat Hungary 3-2 at the Puskás Arena in Budapest on Tuesday, sealing a dramatic turnaround that left Roberto Martínez’s side top of Group F in 2026 World Cup qualifying. The match was played a day after Portugal opened their campaign with a 5-0 win in Armenia, and the visitors now have six points from two matches.

Hungary took an early lead when Barnabás Varga met a cross from Zsolt Nagy to head home in the 21st minute, sending the home crowd into raptures. Portugal levelled through Bernardo Silva in the 36th minute after he pounced on a defensive error and finished from João Cancelo’s pass. After a VAR review that ruled Cristiano Ronaldo had not interfered in the build-up, Portugal were awarded a penalty shortly before the hour and the 40‑year‑old converted coolly in the 58th minute to put the visitors ahead.

The match swung again late when Varga netted his second in the 84th minute to make it 2-2 and ignite wild celebrations among Hungarian supporters. João Cancelo, however, produced an immediate response, firing in a first-time finish from Bernardo Silva’s set-up in the 86th...