Portugal wins a nail-biting match against Hungary: Because Ronaldo made history.

Portugal dramatically defeated Hungary 3-2, with Cristiano Ronaldo reaching a historic milestone and taking another step towards his 1,000th goal.

VietNamNet•10/09/2025

Portuguese strength

In Budapest, on an evening that seemed destined to be a trap for the top contender in Group F of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Portugal turned every difficulty into proof of their strength and determination.

The 3-2 victory against Hungary not only secured three crucial points on the journey to the 2026 World Cup, but also marked a new historical milestone for Cristiano Ronaldo .

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Portugal secured an impressive victory. Photo: LUSA

The exemplary captain scored his 943rd career goal, becoming the greatest goalscorer in World Cup qualifying history with 39 goals – three more than Lionel Messi.

It was a match fraught with tension. Roberto Martinez's team entered Puskas Arena expecting to control the game. And indeed, they held possession for most of the match (60%).

But Hungary, acting as a Marco Rossi-style counter-attacker, proved that even a small gap is enough to shake the giant.

Barnabas Varga, with a gentle header into the bottom corner from Nagy's cross, following a very good transition, inflicted a bitter defeat on Portugal in the 21st minute.

A simple play, but a reminder to Martinez's players that the road to the World Cup is never smooth.

The difference for Portugal was that they knew how to react immediately. Their relentless attacks suffocated the Hungarian defense, including goalkeeper Balazs Toth's excellent save from Ronaldo's shot, followed by Joao Neves' volley.

The pressure caused the numerous Hungarian defenders to crumble: Neves' cross deflected off an opponent, Joao Cancelo intervened, Bernardo Silva controlled the ball and shot it into the home team's net. VAR intervened to determine the validity of the goal.

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Bernardo Silva and his teammates played brilliantly. Photo: Imago

Ronaldo's history

The second half saw Ronaldo take the main stage. His shot from a corner kick found the hand of right-back Loic Nego, and the referee awarded a penalty.

From the penalty spot, CR7 unleashed a powerful low shot that left Toth helpless despite guessing the right direction and diving at full stretch. It was Ronaldo's 141st goal for Portugal – a record that could stand for centuries.

More importantly, this was his 39th goal in World Cup qualifiers – a number that puts him level with the record of Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala), who held this position since September 2016.

Budapest proved to be unyielding. Varga once again emerged victorious, equalizing 2-2 in the 84th minute, again with a header, and the Portuguese side outnumbered their opponents. The Puskas Arena erupted in thunderous cheers.

Just when Hungarian fans thought the game was over, with only two shots on target and two goals scored, Portugal made their voices heard.

The Nations League champions showed their composure and experience. Just two minutes after conceding a goal, Bernardo Silva set up Joao Cancelo for a beautiful right-footed shot to seal a 3-2 victory.

Portugal left Puskas Arena with a victory, sending the message that they have plenty of confidence and are ready to face any challenge, even the most difficult one.

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Ronaldo continues to break records and make history. Photo: Imago

Roberto Martinez can be pleased. His team is not just a collection of individual talents, but also a machine that knows how to react to adversity.

From Bernardo Silva to Cancelo, from Joao Neves to Vitinha, they all shone. Above all, it was Ronaldo – the one who carried within him both the weight of history and an insatiable hunger.

At an age when many of his colleagues have chosen to step back, and Messi recently announced he might not participate in the 2026 World Cup and will miss the match against Ecuador (scheduled for September 10th), Ronaldo continues to step onto the stage and shine in his own way.

In front of tens of thousands of Budapest fans, CR7 still broke records, shaking up the world football statistics. The figure of 943 goals is extraordinary, a testament to a will to conquer all limits.

Each match represents improvement and refinement. The victory against Hungary became a message Ronaldo sent: with his spirit, along with his outstanding young teammates, Portugal is a strong contender for the 2026 World Cup title.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/bo-dao-nha-ha-hungary-3-2-bieu-tuong-lich-su-ronaldo-2440969.html