Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated world football, driving each other to unmatched levels of greatness through countless records.
Now, with Portugal, Ronaldo has reached a milestone that Messi will never reach – setting a unique benchmark in World Cup qualifiers.
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This achievement came during Portugal’s clash with Hungary on Matchday 2 of the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Inside a buzzing Puskás Aréna, Hungary struck first after just 21 minutes when Dominik Szoboszlai led a blistering counter-attack, capped off by Barnabas Varga’s precise header.
Their joy, however, was short-lived. In the 36th minute, Bernardo Silva pounced in the box and lashed the ball into the top corner to bring Portugal level.
After the break, Roberto Martinez’s men tightened their grip, and within 13 minutes they edged ahead. Loic Nego was penalised for handball, and Cristiano Ronaldo converted coolly from the spot.
Just as the match seemed destined to fade out, Varga rose again in the 84th minute, glancing a brilliant header beyond Diogo Costa to send the home crowd into raptures.
But Portugal’s response was swift and ruthless. Only two minutes later, João Cancelo curled a stunning strike into the bottom corner, sealing a dramatic 3-2 win and preserving Portugal’s flawless record at the top of Group F.
Cristiano Ronaldo claims another international record
Ronaldo’s strike marked his 39th goal in World Cup qualifying, pulling him level with Guatemalan legend Carlos “Pescadito” Ruiz as the competition’s all-time leading scorer.
The Portuguese captain had already surpassed Lionel Messi on Saturday against Armenia, when his brace lifted him to 38.
Messi, who netted twice against Venezuela last week to reach 36, has since confirmed that was his final appearance in World Cup qualifying, leaving his longtime rival to extend the record unchallenged.
Portugal, meanwhile, sits atop Group F with six points from two matches, and with four qualifiers still to play in November, Ronaldo has the opportunity not only to guide his nation closer to the 2026 World Cup but also to push the record further out of reach.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
