Portugal emerged victorious in a closely contested World Cup qualifier match against Hungary, with Cristiano Ronaldo making history by tying the record for the most World Cup qualifying goals. The 40-year-old striker scored his 39th goal in World Cup qualifiers, tying him with Guatemala's Carlos Ruiz and surpassing Lionel Messi by three goals.
Ronaldo's penalty kick in the 58th minute proved to be the decisive goal, securing Portugal's 2-3 victory. This goal also extended his international record to 141 goals in 223 appearances for Portugal, solidifying his position as the joint-highest scorer in World Cup qualifying history.
The match saw several twists and turns. Hungary's Barnabas Varga opened the scoring in the 21st minute, but Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva equalized just 15 minutes later. Varga's equalizing goal in the 84th minute sparked hopes of a draw, but Joao Cancelo's late goal in the 86th minute secured a dramatic win for Portugal under the guidance of manager Roberto Martinez.
Ronaldo's two goals in Portugal's 5-0 victory over Armenia in their previous match have propelled them to the top of Group F with six points from their opening two matches. Hungary, on the other hand, finds themselves in third place with one point, alongside the Republic of Ireland, who faced a 2-1 setback in Armenia.
With their impressive start to the World Cup qualifiers, Portugal continues to showcase their strength and determination, while Ronaldo's record-breaking performance highlights his enduring impact on the international stage.
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