Cristiano Ronaldo broke the all-time scoring record in World Cup qualifiers — but his heroics weren’t enough to carry Portugal past Hungary, who snatched a dramatic 2–2 draw in Lisbon.
Ronaldo’s Record, but Portugal Stumbled
Ronaldo struck twice, with his first goal marking his 40th in World Cup qualifying — a new milestone. His brace appeared to seal Portugal’s spot among the automatic qualifiers. Yet Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a late equalizer in added time, denying the hosts full points.
Despite leading the group, Portugal must wait for another opportunity to seal their berth, with a crucial trip to Dublin against Republic of Ireland coming up next month.
Republic of Ireland Keep Hopes Alive
Ireland maintained their qualification bid with a narrow 1–0 win over Armenia. Evan Ferguson headed in the decisive strike in the 70th minute after Armenia were reduced to 10 men—Tigran Barseghyan was sent off for a headbutt.
The result ensures that Portugal’s visits to Dublin and Budapest will carry real weight in the group.
Other Key Results Across Europe
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Italy defeated Israel 3–0 in Udine, with two goals from Mateo Retegui and a late header by Gianluca Mancini. They remain in contention for automatic qualification behind Norway.
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A draw between Estonia and Moldova (1–1) left Italy’s group still open.
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In Group K, England clinched qualification with a commanding win, while Serbia edged Andorra 3–1. Serbia now battles Albania for the runner-up spot.
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Turkey kept up pressure on Spain, posting a convincing 4–1 win over Georgia thanks to goals from Merih Demiral, Kenan Yildiz, and Yunus Akgün.
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