Key Takeaways:
- Portugal claimed a 3:2 comeback victory away to Hungary at the Puskás Arena in Budapest in Group F qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 141st international goal and equalled Carlos Ruiz’ record of 39 World Cup qualifying goals last night
- With this result, Portugal top Group F, while Armenia defeated Ireland 2:1 in the other group fixture
Match Analysis
Portugal emerged triumphant with a thrilling 3:2 win over Hungary at the Puskás Arena in Budapest, staking their claim as undisputed leaders in Group F of the UEFA qualifying path for the 2026 World Cup set to take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Now boasting six points from their first two matches, the Navigators have established a commanding position in the group, virtually unchallenged for the direct qualification spot.
Elsewhere in the group, Armenia secured a narrow 2:1 victory at home against Ireland, moving into second place and relegating Hungary to third. As it stands, Portugal look set for an untroubled path to group supremacy, leaving Hungary, Ireland, and Armenia to compete for second place and a potential play-off berth.
Portugal win a thrilling game with Hungary ⚡️#WCQ pic.twitter.com/9UVxPY94BV
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) September 9, 2025
First-Half Drama in Budapest
Hungary started brightly, absorbing early Portuguese pressure before springing into action and sending the crowd into raptures. In the 21st minute, Barnabas Varga capitalised on an incisive delivery from Zsolt Nagy to beat the visiting defence and open the scoring for the hosts.
However, the Magyars failed to hold their advantage until the break. Roughly ten minutes before half-time, Portugal exploited a defensive lapse. Bernardo Silva pounced on a miscue, latching onto Joao Cancelo’s assist to make it 1:1 in the 36th minute. There was initial debate over a potential offside, as Cristiano Ronaldo stood behind the last defender, but a VAR review determined that the living legend had not interfered in the Hungarian box.
VAR Intervenes and Ronaldo Reverses the Tie
The video assistant referee once again played a crucial role after the interval. Approaching the hour mark, Portugal were awarded a penalty, which Ronaldo coolly converted in the 58th minute to complete the turnaround.
With this goal, Ronaldo, who has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, advances his pursuit of the 1000-goal milestone, now totalling 943 goals in his career, including 141 for Portugal. His strike also put him level with Carlos Ruiz as joint record holder of 39 goals in World Cup qualifiers.
| Scorer | Minute | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Barnabas Varga | 21 | Hungary |
| Bernardo Silva | 36 | Portugal |
| Cristiano Ronaldo (pen) | 58 | Portugal |
| Barnabas Varga | 84 | Hungary |
| João Cancelo | 86 | Portugal |
Late Goals Seal the Outcome
The closing stages of the match delivered exceptional drama. Barnabas Varga reignited hopes for Hungary in the 84th minute by netting his second of the evening, making it 2:2 and sparking wild scenes in the stands. Yet, Portuguese celebrations came almost immediately thereafter, as Bernardo Silva set up Joao Cancelo for the winning goal in the 86th minute. Television footage revealed many Hungarian fans still jubilant over the equaliser, moments before being silenced by Cancelo’s swift response.
Group Standings and Looking Ahead
Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates now conclude the opening sequence of qualifiers with maximum points and heightened confidence, having overcome their principal group challengers. The reverse fixture between these two sides is scheduled for October, this time in Portugal, giving Roberto Martinez’ side further advantage. The next set of matches will see Portugal hosting Ireland, while Hungary will face Armenia on home turf.
