Lisbon, Portugal – October 15, 2025 – Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football icon, achieved a historic milestone on Tuesday evening by becoming the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup qualifying history. At the age of 40 years and 252 days, the forward scored twice in Portugal's 2-2 draw against Hungary at Estádio da Luz, netting his 40th and 41st goals in World Cup qualifiers. This performance surpassed the previous record of 39 goals held by Guatemala's Carlos Ruiz from 1998 to 2016.
The match was part of UEFA's qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first edition to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Portugal, under coach Roberto Martínez, entered the fixture leading Group A with 22 points from eight matches. A victory would have mathematically secured their qualification with two games remaining. Hungary, managed by Marco Rossi, sat fourth in the group with 10 points, needing points to stay in contention for a playoff spot.
Ronaldo's brace not only broke the record but also highlighted his enduring excellence. As the all-time leading international goalscorer with 143 goals for Portugal, he has now expressed clear intent to compete in a record sixth World Cup tournament, surpassing the five appearances shared by players like Mexico's Rafael Márquez and Germany's Lothar Matthäus.
Match Report: A Tale of Two Halves and Dramatic Drama
The game kicked off at 20:45 local time under clear skies and a temperature of 18°C (64°F), with an attendance of 64,827 spectators – nearly a sellout at the 65,000-capacity venue. Referee Clément Turpin of France officiated, assisted by a VAR team led by Polish official Paweł Gil.
First Half: Ronaldo's Record-Breaking Brilliance
Hungary opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Portugal conceded a free-kick 25 yards from goal after João Palhinha fouled Roland Sallai. Captain Dominik Szoboszlai, the 25-year-old Liverpool midfielder, stepped up and curled a right-footed shot over the wall and beyond goalkeeper Diogo Costa into the top left corner. Score: Hungary 1-0 Portugal.
Portugal responded swiftly. In the 22nd minute, right-back Nelson Semedo, on loan at Roma, advanced down the flank and delivered a precise low cross into the penalty area. Ronaldo, unmarked at the far post, controlled the ball with his right foot and volleyed it first-time into the bottom right corner past goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi. This was Ronaldo's 40th World Cup qualifying goal, breaking Ruiz's record. Score: 1-1.
The equalizer ignited Portugal. Possession shifted decisively, with the hosts registering 68% ball control in the ensuing 20 minutes. In the 38th minute, left-back Nuno Mendes, the 23-year-old Paris Saint-Germain defender, received the ball from Bruno Fernandes on the left wing. Mendes dribbled past two defenders before cutting inside and passing to Ronaldo, who was positioned 12 yards from goal. Ronaldo took one touch to settle the ball and struck a low right-footed shot into the bottom left corner. Gulácsi dived but could not reach it. Score: Portugal 2-1 Hungary at halftime.
Halftime statistics showed Portugal with 62% possession, 7 shots (4 on target), and 3 corners, while Hungary had 38% possession, 2 shots (1 on target), and 1 corner. Ronaldo had completed 22 of 25 passes for 88% accuracy and created 2 chances.
Second Half: Hungary's Resilience and Late Equalizer
The second period began with Portugal substitutions: Pedro Neto replaced Rafael Leão in the 46th minute to add width on the right. Hungary introduced Zsolt Nagy for Sallai in the 60th minute to bolster midfield.
Portugal dominated early, with Bruno Fernandes striking the post from 20 yards in the 55th minute and Gonçalo Ramos, subbed on for Diogo Jota in the 63rd minute, forcing a save from Gulácsi in the 68th. Portugal's expected goals (xG) reached 1.8 by the 70th minute, compared to Hungary's 0.6.
Hungary absorbed pressure and grew into the game. In the 93rd minute (7th minute of added time, signaled for Portugal's time-wasting), a counter-attack unfolded. Szoboszlai received a pass from Ádám Nagy 28 yards out. With space opening due to Portugal's advanced line, he struck a right-footed volley that dipped over Costa and hit the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line. Goal confirmed by goal-line technology. Score: 2-2.
The final whistle blew at 22:52, ending Portugal's eight-match winning streak in qualifiers. Final statistics revealed Portugal with 65% possession, 15 shots (6 on target), 7 corners, 12 fouls, and 2 yellow cards to Palhinha and Mendes. Hungary finished with 35% possession, 6 shots (3 on target), 2 corners, 14 fouls, and 3 yellow cards to Sallai, Nagy, and Varga. Expected goals stood at 2.1 for Portugal and 1.2 for Hungary. Man of the Match: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), with 2 goals, 1 assist potential created, and 85% pass accuracy.
The Record in Context: Ronaldo vs. Carlos Ruiz
Ronaldo's 41 goals came in 66 World Cup qualifying appearances since his debut in 2004, averaging 0.62 goals per game. Ruiz, born March 15, 1979, scored his 39 goals in 84 matches for Guatemala from 1998 to 2016, averaging 0.46 per game. Ruiz's haul included 22 goals in CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cups, plus Gold Cup strikes.
FIFA's official records confirm Ronaldo now tops the all-time list. In second place is Carlos Ruiz with 39 goals in 84 matches from 1998 to 2016. Third is Malaysia's Moktar Dahari with 32 goals in 36 matches between 1972 and 1981. West Germany's Gerd Müller follows with 30 goals in 27 matches from 1966 to 1973. Rounding out the top five is India's Sunil Chhetri with 29 goals in 67 matches from 2006 to 2025.
Ronaldo is the oldest player to score in qualifiers at 40 years and 252 days, and he holds the record for most braces with 9.
Ronaldo's International Career: Key Milestones
Ronaldo debuted for Portugal on August 20, 2003, against Kazakhstan. His 143 international goals (as of October 14, 2025) surpass Iran's Ali Daei's 109. In World Cup tournaments, he has made 5 appearances from 2006 to 2022, scoring 8 goals and providing 2 assists, though without a trophy. In the European Championships, he has 6 appearances from 2004 to 2024, with 14 goals, 7 assists, and the 2016 title win. In the UEFA Nations League, he has 3 appearances from 2018 to 2025, scoring 7 goals and providing 3 assists, including the 2019 victory.
For qualifiers, he has 66 World Cup appearances with 41 goals and 15 assists, plus 44 Euro qualifiers with 22 goals and 10 assists. Overall, Ronaldo has 206 caps, 143 goals, 45 assists, and 2 major titles. He has scored for Portugal in 11 straight major tournaments. For 2026, Ronaldo would be 41, aiming to extend records like most World Cup appearances (6) and goals past age 35 (currently 8).
Post-Match Reactions and Statements
Ronaldo, speaking to UEFA TV: "The record belongs to Portugal. I scored twice, but the draw hurts. Qualification is ours soon, and 2026 will be special – my sixth World Cup."
Coach Martínez: "Cristiano's professionalism is unmatched. At 40, he trains like a 20-year-old."
Hungary's Szoboszlai: "Ronaldo is the greatest. My goal was for the team, but respect to him."
Ruiz, via Instagram: "Congratulations, Cristiano. You deserved it. Football thanks you."
Global media coverage was extensive: BBC reported, "Ronaldo defies age"; ESPN stated, "GOAT cements legacy"; Globo Esporte declared, "O Rei dos Gols." Social media buzz was immediate, with #Ronaldo41 trending worldwide and generating 3.2 million posts on X (formerly Twitter) within hours.
Implications for 2026 World Cup Qualification
The draw leaves Portugal on 23 points, 7 ahead of second-placed Slovakia (with one game in hand). They face Liechtenstein away on October 21 and Slovakia at home on November 18. A draw in either match secures qualification.
The 2026 tournament expands to 48 teams across 104 matches in 16 stadiums from June 11 to July 19. Portugal, who exited in the 2018 round of 16, eyes deeper progression with Ronaldo leading the attack.
Ronaldo's Broader Impact
At Al-Nassr, Ronaldo has scored 52 goals in 58 Saudi Pro League games since joining in 2023. His career totals exceed 900 club goals, including 5 UEFA Champions League titles and 5 Ballons d'Or (2008, 2013–2014, 2016–2017).
Off-field, Ronaldo's net worth exceeds €1 billion, driven by CR7 branding in hotels, clothing, and partnerships with Pestana hotels. He supports UNICEF initiatives and personally funded a pediatric hospital in his hometown of Madeira, which opened in 2019 and serves 50,000 patients annually.
This milestone underscores Ronaldo's longevity: only four players have reached 100 or more international goals, and he leads that group by 34. His ability to perform at the elite level into his 40s sets him apart from predecessors like Pelé (77 Brazil goals) or Maradona (34 Argentina goals), particularly in the demanding context of World Cup qualifiers against top competition.
In summary, Ronaldo's brace against Hungary on October 14, 2025, rewrote World Cup qualifying history, propelling Portugal toward 2026 while affirming his status as football's most prolific scorer. At 40, his consistency remains unparalleled, inspiring a new generation and ensuring his legacy endures for decades.
