Record Breaker: Cristiano Ronaldo Reaches 948 Career Goals, Sets New All-Time World Cup Qualifier Mark

LISBON—Cristiano Ronaldo once again defied his age and the limits of football history, setting a new all-time World Cup qualifier scoring record during Portugal’s dramatic 2-2 draw against Hungary on Tuesday. The monumental performance saw the veteran forward bag a brace, pushing his professional career goal tally ever closer to the elusive 1,000-goal mark.

The highly contested FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier, held at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, saw Portugal fight back after conceding an early goal. Hungary took the lead in the 8th minute, but the Portuguese captain quickly took charge.

An Unstoppable Scoring Streak

Ronaldo’s first goal came in the 22nd minute, a close-range finish following a precise cross from Nélson Semedo. This strike, his 40th in World Cup qualifying matches, officially surpassed the record of 39 goals previously held by Guatemalan legend Carlos Ruiz, immediately crowning Ronaldo as the competition’s new all-time top scorer.

The 40-year-old was not finished, adding a second goal just before halftime (45+3') by converting a cross from Nuno Mendes, extending his newly claimed record to 41 goals in World Cup qualifiers.

In addition to securing the World Cup qualifying milestone, Ronaldo’s double increased his overall professional career goal count to 948. He also cemented his position as the top men's international scorer in history with 143 goals for Portugal.

Draw Delays Qualification

Despite Ronaldo’s heroics, Portugal could not secure the victory needed to book their spot at the 2026 World Cup finals. After taking a 2-1 lead into the break, Portugal seemed set to seal qualification. However, a late equalizer in stoppage time (90+1') by Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai rescued a crucial point for Hungary, forcing Portugal to wait until the next international window to complete the job.

Although the draw was a slight disappointment, Portugal remains comfortably atop Group F, leading Hungary by five points with two matches remaining.

Following the match, Ronaldo took to social media to express his pride and focus. "We are getting closer to our goal! Let's go, Portugal,” he posted, underlining his determination to lead his nation to the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. His longevity and relentless pursuit of excellence continue to inspire teammates, fans, and rivals alike.