LISBON – At the remarkable age of 40, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy the laws of football, etching his name into the history books once again. The Portuguese superstar officially claimed the title of the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup qualifying matches following a clutch performance in Portugal’s recent fixture.
Ronaldo's historic brace came during a tense 2-2 draw against Hungary at the Estádio José Alvalade. The captain’s 40th and 41st qualifying goals were enough to decisively break the record previously held by Guatemalan legend Carlos Ruiz.
A Night of Milestones and Mixed Results
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner entered Tuesday's game needing just one goal to stand alone atop the record charts, having been level with Ruiz's tally of 39. After the hosts fell behind early, Ronaldo stepped up to deliver two crucial strikes:
The Record-Tying Goal (Goal 40): Displaying his predatory instinct, Ronaldo nudged home a dangerous cross from Nélson Semedo to bring Portugal level.
The History-Making Goal (Goal 41): Shortly before halftime, he completed the feat, slotting away a fine delivery from Nuno Mendes to secure his record-breaking 41st qualifying goal.
Despite Ronaldo’s individual brilliance, Portugal couldn't seal the victory, with Dominik Szoboszlai snatching a stoppage-time equalizer for Hungary. The 2-2 result served as the first slight stumble in Portugal's otherwise perfect 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign.
The Elite 40-Goal Club
Ronaldo now stands alone with 41 goals, solidifying his position as the most prolific scorer in the tournament’s qualification history. He moved two goals ahead of former leader Carlos Ruiz (39 goals). Rounding out the top global goalscorers in World Cup qualifiers are Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who sits third with 36 goals, followed by Ali Daei of Iran (35 goals), and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski (33 goals).
The Final Push for Glory
The new World Cup qualifying milestone brings Ronaldo’s total career goal count to an astounding 948 goals, which includes 143 strikes for the Portugal national team. As he enters the twilight of his career, the Real Madrid icon is now singularly focused on two monumental targets: reaching the elusive 1,000-goal mark and, perhaps most importantly, finally lifting the coveted World Cup trophy.
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