Cristiano Ronaldo has further cemented his legacy in football history, becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup Qualifiers after netting two crucial goals for Portugal in their recent 2-2 draw against Hungary. This thrilling encounter was part of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign for the UEFA region.
With these two strikes, the prolific Al Nassr striker surpassed the previous record of 40 goals, which was held by Carlos Ruiz of Guatemala. Ronaldo’s exceptional form continues to benefit his national team, Portugal, who are currently leading Group F in their bid for a place at the 2026 tournament.
Portugal had been on the verge of taking a significant step towards automatic qualification. However, a dramatic late equalizer from Hungary’s Dominik Szoboszlai in the 90+1 minute meant the points were shared, compelling Portugal to postpone their definitive qualification. In the match, Ronaldo found the net twice, first in the 22nd minute and again in the 45+3 minute, giving Portugal the lead. Hungary, however, managed to respond with two goals, including Szoboszlai’s decisive late strike, to secure a hard-fought draw.
While Portugal could not officially seal automatic qualification in this fourth Group F match, the veteran striker nonetheless celebrated a significant personal milestone with his second goal of the night. His first goal against Hungary drew him level with Carlos Ruiz, the legendary Guatemalan forward who had previously held the record with 40 goals scored in World Cup qualifiers during his career from 1995 to 2016.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s second goal of the match officially broke the record, establishing him as the sole holder with 41 goals. These impressive 41 goals have been accumulated across 50 World Cup qualifying matches since he first began playing for the national team in 2003.
Beyond this international record, Ronaldo is also steadily closing in on an incredible milestone of 1,000 career goals. The illustrious forward, who has played for top clubs like Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, currently boasts a remarkable 948 career goals, putting him just 52 shy of the monumental 1,000-goal mark.
Despite the draw, Portugal remains at the top of Group F with 10 points from four matches. They hold a significant five-point lead over second-placed Hungary, with two matches still to play. Ireland sits in third position with 4 points, while Armenia is in fourth with 3 points. The winners of each qualifying group will automatically secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the second-placed teams advancing to the playoff stage to vie for their qualification.
