Cancelo strike seal vital victory for Portugal against Hungary

Portugal claimed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Hungary in their second 2026 World Cup qualifier, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a record-equalling goal before Joao Cancelo hit an 86th-minute winner.

Hungary broke the deadlock inside 21 minutes as a rapid counter-attack led by a marauding Dominik Szoboszlai was finished off with a neat header from Barnabas Varga.

But the hosts’ lead was swiped away in the 36th minute, when Bernardo Silva, whose previous goal for Portugal came in September 2021, sent the ball flying into the top corner from close range to restore parity. 

Following the interval, Portugal re-established control, and it took just 13 minutes for Roberto Martinez’s side to take the lead.

After Loic Nego was judged to have handled the ball inside the box, Ronaldo stepped up from the spot and coolly fired past Balazs Toth, becoming the joint-leading scorer in the history of World Cup qualifiers.

When the game looked to be fizzling out, Varga glanced an unstoppable header past Diogo Costa in the 84th minute to send the Puskas Arena into delirium.

Yet, just two minutes later, Cancelo curled a beautiful effort into Toth’s bottom left-hand corner, ensuring Portugal continued their 100% start at the top of Group F.

Forty-year-old Ronaldo grabbed the headlines again as he equalled the record for the most goals of all-time in World Cup qualifiers (around the world), registering his 39th in 49 games to draw level with Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz. 

Registering an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.03, Ronaldo took five shots and hit the target with four.

In contrast, Hungary will be bitterly disappointed to let a point slip away, having made the most of their limited chances. 

The hosts had just 0.34 expected goals (xG) and scored with both of their two shots on target, but they were unable to cling on at 2-2.