Ronaldo\’s Record Double Not Enough: Hungary Snatch Draw, Portugal Must Wait for World Cup Ticket

LISBON — Cristiano Ronaldo made history on Tuesday by scoring twice against Hungary to become the all-time top goalscorer in FIFA World Cup qualifying with 41 goals, but his record-breaking effort was overshadowed by a dramatic late equalizer that delayed Portugal’s celebration.

The match ended in a disappointing 2-2 draw for the Seleção after Hungary’s Dominik Szoboszlai found the back of the net in the 91st minute of stoppage time, denying Portugal the win that would have secured their place in the 2026 World Cup.

Ronaldo, who now stands alone with 41 qualifying goals—two clear of Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz—acknowledged the personal achievement but immediately looked forward to the team\’s objective.

\”Thank you to everyone who helped me get here. See you in November to seal the qualification for the World Cup!\” the 40-year-old wrote on social media.

The Portuguese superstar scored his 40th and 41st qualifying goals through two tap-ins, first from a Nelson Semedo cross, and later from a precise ball by Nuno Mendes. The brace also pushed his men\’s international scoring record to an incredible 143 goals.

The draw means that while Portugal remains five points clear at the top of Group F with two matches remaining, their ticket to North America has not yet been stamped. Twenty-eight of the 48 available spots for the 2026 tournament have already been filled, including England and several African and Asian nations.

The team’s left-back, Nuno Mendes, expressed frustration over the missed opportunity. \”After the second goal, we slowed down the tempo and they profited,\” Mendes told UEFA. \”We tried to do what we trained for, but we failed. We need to stay focused and, in November, do things correctly.\”

Portugal will next have the chance to secure qualification when they play the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on November 13.

Would you like me to create a summary table of Ronaldo\’s new records for quick reference?