New Record! Cristiano Ronaldo scripts history after latest goal in World Cup qualifiers

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Sep 10, 2025, 18:00 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty as Portugal beat Hungary 3-2. Ronaldo equaled the record for most goals in World Cup qualifying. He now shares the top spot with Karlos Ruiz of Guatemala. Portugal won against Armenia earlier. They are now leading Group F. The team will face Ireland next. Ronaldo aims to become the top scorer in the upcoming match.

New Record! Cristiano Ronaldo scripts history after latest goal in World Cup qualifiers

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Cristiano Ronaldo once again wrote his name into the history books as he guided Portugal to a 3-2 victory over Hungary in Budapest on Tuesday night. The veteran forward struck from the penalty spot in the 58th minute, registering his 39th goal in World Cup qualifiers. With that strike, he pulled level with Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz as the joint-top scorer in the competition’s history. The Portugal captain, now 40 years old and still leading from the front, had already found the net twice in the team’s 5-0 demolition of Armenia a few days earlier. His consistency has now moved him three clear of Lionel Messi, who has 36 goals in World Cup qualifying, reigniting the ever-present comparison between the two modern greats.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Hungary, however, were not easy opponents. Barnabas Varga netted twice, including the opener, which forced Portugal to chase the game early on. Bernardo Silva sparked the comeback with a thunderous strike to level the score before Ronaldo’s penalty turned the tide. João Cancelo then added a third to seal all three points, ensuring Portugal maintained their perfect start to the campaign with six points from two matches.

Poll

Who do you think is the greatest modern footballer?

Cristiano RonaldoLionel MessiBoth are equal

The moment was more than just a goal. Ronaldo’s penalty came after his shot was handled by Loic Nego, and the Al Nassr striker calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

It underlined not just his quality but also his longevity at the very highest level of international football. On Instagram, the Portuguese skipper summed up his feelings with a short message: “Two games, two wins, let’s go Portugal.” The victory keeps Roberto Martinez’s side top of Group F, ahead of Armenia, who surprised Ireland earlier in the day. For Ronaldo, the record is another reminder of his extraordinary career. Already the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 141 goals in 223 games, he now has the chance to stand alone as the most prolific marksman in World Cup qualifying when Portugal face Ireland on October 11.

Catch Lovlina Borgohain's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5. Watch Here

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article