Ronaldo tops World Cup qualifying goals as Portugal draw with Hungary

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to become the leading scorer in World Cup qualifying history but Portugal were held to a 2-2 draw by Hungary on Oct. 14 in Lisbon, leaving the side still to secure automatic passage to the 2026 World Cup. Four days later the 40-year-old added a club milestone, netting for Al Nassr in a 5-1 league win that marked his 800th goal at club level and moved his career total closer to 1,000.

At Estádio José Alvalade, Hungary struck first through Attila Szalai in the eighth minute before Ronaldo equalised in the 22nd from close range and added a second in first-half stoppage time. The brace moved him past Carlos Ruiz’s mark to 41 goals in World Cup qualifying matches. Portugal led Group F on 10 points after four matches, but Dominik Szoboszlai’s stoppage-time header denied them victory and delayed what would have been immediate qualification.

Roberto Martinez acknowledged the disappointment after the match, saying, "If you do not kill the game you need to know how to manage it until the end. Today we stopped playing and Hungary equalised." Ronaldo posted on social media after the game, "We are getting closer to our goal! Lets go, Portugal!"