Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the World Cup qualifier against Hungary, setting another impressive record in international football along the way
Cristiano Ronaldo broke a new record in the match between Portugal and Hungary, becoming the player with the most goals in a World Cup qualifier. The 40-year-old scored his 41st goal, aiming to qualify for the U.S. national team next summer.
Ronaldo’s opening goal broke a record tie with former Guatemalan international Carlos Ruiz after equaling the record at the September international break. The veteran forward missed a penalty at the weekend and missed out on a chance, but he scored in the 22nd minute to help his team come back from a one-goal deficit and score his breakthrough goal.
And the Portuguese legend was perfectly placed to capitalize on Nuno Mendes’ cross to give Roberto Martinez’s side the lead in first-half stoppage time. With this effort, he increased his all-time scoring record in international matches to 143 goals.
However, it proved not to be enough to claim the three points as Ronaldo was substituted in the second period and Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai scored a late equaliser. Despite missing out on automatic qualification, Portugal remain top of Group F with 10 points, five ahead of Hungary and six ahead of the Republic of Ireland.
“We’re getting closer to our goal! Let’s go, Portugal,” Ronaldo told X after the match.
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Ronaldo’s 41 goals in qualifying put him five ahead of third-placed Lionel Messi and nine ahead of Polish sharpshooter Robert Lewandowski. The superstar hopes his goals can help Portugal qualify for the World Cup and beyond.
Ronaldo will not be able to win the sport’s most coveted trophy, and next summer’s tournament could be his last chance to win it. However, Ronaldo previously suggested that winning the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 would be the same as winning the World Cup.
“For Portugal to win the Euros is the equivalent of the World Cup,” the 40-year-old declared. “I have already won the two trophies I really wanted for Portugal (Nations League and Euros).
“That’s not what motivates me. I’m motivated by enjoying soccer, and records come naturally. I’m not chasing records, they’re chasing me.”
Peter Crouch noticed Ronaldo’s talent early on, at the beginning of his career. But he wasn’t the most visible.
“It was a real honor to play with (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, (Lionel) Messi and Ronaldo. It was an honor to be on the same pitch as them,” Crouch told Mirror Football.
“I played against Cristiano Ronaldo when he was unknown, England Under-21s against Portugal Under-21s,[because]he and Quaresma were on the wings, and we didn’t know anything about them…on the sides. I had J. Lloyd Samuel and Paul Konchesky in the back and I was like, ‘J, get your act together, what’s going on, you’re falling apart!”’ But little did I know it was Quaresma and Ronaldo.
“Honestly, I felt[Quaresma]was a little better at the time, but what Ronaldo has achieved since then…” he added. “I remember Quaresma making a 60, 70-yard pass. Ronaldo controlled the pass with his back and went straight to the full-back. I thought, ‘Who is this guy?’
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