Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t any stranger to record-breaking achievements and the Portuguese striker set one more mark on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old hit the again of the online twice in Portugal’s 2-2 draw in opposition to Hungary to develop into the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup qualifying historical past.
Before Tuesday’s match, Ronaldo had shared the earlier record (39 targets) with Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz however he’s now out on his personal at 41.
“It is no secret that representing the National Team means a lot to me, and that’s why I’m very proud to have reached this unique milestone for Portugal,” Ronaldo wrote on social media Wednesday.
“Thank you to everyone who helped me get here. See you in November to seal the qualification for the World Cup!”
Ronaldo broke the record within the twenty second minute in opposition to Hungary when he tapped into an empty web from shut vary after Nelson Semedo produced a superb low cross.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner then prolonged his record moments earlier than the break, delivering Nuno Mendes’ sensible cross from shut vary once more.
Ronaldo now boasts 143 worldwide targets for Portugal, extending the lads’s worldwide scoring record he broke again in 2021.
However, his two targets on Tuesday weren’t sufficient to safe a win for his nation, with Magyars midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai equalizing in stoppage time within the 91st minute.
It means the Seleção has but to qualify for subsequent yr’s World Cup however remains to be 5 factors away from Hungary in Group F of UEFA qualification with two matches left to play. It will subsequent have the prospect to stamp its ticket to the match when it performs the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on November 13.
“After the second goal, we slowed down the tempo and they profited,” Portugal left again Mendes advised UEFA after Tuesday’s draw.
“We tried to do what we trained for, but we failed. We need to stay focused and, in November, do things correctly.”
England, Ivory Coast, Senegal, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Qatar all certified for subsequent yr’s World Cup on Tuesday, with the match set to begin on June 11. So far, 28 of the 48 groups have booked their ticket to North America.