Lisbon, Oct 14 Cristiano Ronaldo showcased once again why he remains a force to reckon with, delivering a stunning brace in Portugal’s 2-2 draw with Hungary in their 2026 World Cup qualifier.

Hungary struck first through Attila Szalai in the 8th minute, but Ronaldo equalized in the 22nd, breaking the World Cup qualifying scoring record with his 40th goal. Then, deep into first-half stoppage time, he turned provider into scorer again converting a cross from Nuno Mendes to give Portugal the lead.

The second half saw Portugal pushing for more, hitting the woodwork twice, but fatigue and defensive lapses crept in. Right at the death, Dominik Szoboszlai slipped through to fire a low equaliser and deny the hosts three points.

Despite the draw, Ronaldo’s brilliance was undeniable yet the result serves as a warning: even magic from CR7 can’t cover for collective errors. Portugal’s journey to secure their spot in the 2026 finals continues.

Ronaldo’s brace also made him to break the record for the most goals scored in a world cup qualifier competition.