Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has equalled Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz record of 39 goals in World Cup qualifying matches. The record-tying strike came during Portugal’s 3-2 win over Hungary on Tuesday.
Match Recap
Portugal’s qualifier at the Puskás Arena in Budapest was a dramatic encounter:
- Hungary took the lead early in the match.
- Portugal equalised late, only for the hosts to regain the advantage.
- Joao Cancelo scored in the 86th minute, securing a 3-2 victory for Portugal.
Ronaldo’s penalty during the match marked his 39th goal in World Cup qualifiers, tying Ruiz’s record.
Ronaldo’s Next Milestone
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star now needs just one more goal to become the outright record holder for the most goals in a World Cup qualifying campaign.
Ronaldo has four more qualifiers to play for Portugal in the 2026 World Cup cycle, facing:
- Ireland (twice)
- Hungary
- Armenia
Fans will be watching closely as Ronaldo chases yet another historic milestone in his illustrious career.
