A goal from Hungarian Szoboszlai in the first minute of stoppage time ruined the party that was coming in Alvalade and postponed Portugal’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup, wasting another historic night for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 2-2 draw between Portugal and Hungary began to take shape with a warning from the Magyar team that tonight would not be a mere qualifying parade for the Portuguese national team, when Szalai put Hungary ahead on the scoreboard, after eight minutes.
But the turnaround achieved before the break with two goals from the endless Cristiano Ronaldo, who added another record to his personal book that would make Guinness jealous – he is now the best scorer in history in qualifying games for the World Cup (41) -, seemed to create the perfect scenario to stamp the Portuguese passport for the World Cup of the Americas (USA, Canada and Mexico).
The story of this game included, however, a final setback, with the Hungarian equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time punishing an inconsistent performance by the Portuguese team, which alternated between being very good at the front and being too vulnerable at the back, ending the game completely between sectors, in disorderly rushes, when the result called for control and reason.
Portugal, which visits the Republic of Ireland in the next round, leads Group F, with 10 points, five more than tonight’s opponent, who is second.
See the goals: