Cristiano Ronaldo has outlined the worldwide soccer stage alongside Lionel Messi for greater than 20 years, pushing one another to unprecedented heights with file after file. Now, with Portugal, Ronaldo has achieved a milestone Messi won’t ever contact — changing into the all-time main scorer in World Cup qualifiers.
Portugal confronted Hungary on Tuesday in Matchday 2 of the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers forward of the 2026 event in america, Canada, and Mexico. In entrance of a packed Puskás Aréna, Barnabás Varga opened the scoring within the twenty first minute earlier than Bernardo Silva leveled for Portugal within the thirty sixth. However early within the second half, Ronaldo stepped as much as break the impasse.
Within the 56th minute, Bruno Fernandes delivered a nook that struck Loïc Nego’s hand, prompting referee Eric Lambrechts to award a penalty. Ronaldo stepped up and calmly buried a low shot to his left, leaving goalkeeper Balázs Tóth helpless regardless of diving the best manner.
Cristiano Ronaldo claims one other worldwide file
The aim was Ronaldo’s thirty ninth in World Cup qualifying, shifting him stage with Guatemalan legend Carlos “Pescadito” Ruiz because the competitors’s all-time prime scorer. The Portuguese ahead had already pulled forward of Messi on Saturday towards Armenia, when he scored twice to succeed in 38.
Messi, in the meantime, struck twice towards Venezuela final week to take his whole to 36, however the Inter Miami star confirmed that was his closing look in World Cup qualifying. Together with his worldwide future now targeted solely on tournaments, Messi has formally bowed out of this explicit race.
see additionally
Cristiano Ronaldo set for US return after 10 years? Daring USMNT pre-World Cup plan pits Al-Nassr and Portugal famous person towards Christian Pulisic
Portugal sits stage with Hungary on the prime of Group F with 4 factors from two video games. With 4 qualifiers left in November, Ronaldo not solely has the possibility to steer Portugal towards a ticket to the 2026 World Cup but in addition to say the file outright and lengthen it past attain.
*Growing story…
