JOAO CANCELO slotted home from the edge of the box to snatch Portugal a thrilling 3-2 win at Hungary on Tuesday, sending them top of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group.
Cristiano Ronaldo was also on target as Roberto Martinez’s side secured their second win from their two opening games against the spirited hosts, for whom Barnabas Varga netted twice in Budapest.
Portugal lead Group F on six points from Armenia on three after their win over the Republic of Ireland earlier on.
Nations League champions Portugal were high on confidence after thumping Armenia 5-0 on Saturday and dominated possession.
However, it was Hungary who took the lead as Ferencvaros striker Varga found a gap in Portugal’s defence and nodded home Zsolt Nagy’s cross.
Portugal responded by pouring forward, and Hungary goalkeeper Balazs Toth made a stunning save to deny Ronaldo from close range after half an hour.
The visitors levelled six minutes later with Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva lashing into the roof of the net after the ball broke his way in the box.
Portugal took the lead after 58 minutes through veteran striker Ronaldo, aiming to become the first player to feature at six different World Cup finals.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner won the spot-kick when his shot was handled by Loic Nego, and he squeezed it into the bottom left corner beyond Toth’s outstretched fingertips.
Ronaldo became the player who has scored the joint-most goals in World Cup qualifying history, level with retired Guatemala international Carlos Ruiz, as he bagged his 39th.
Hungary, who last qualified for the World Cup in 1986 and have never beaten Portugal in 15 attempts, equalised with another Varga header from Nego’s cross after 84 minutes.
Just two minutes later, Portugal stole the ball back high up the pitch and Cancelo stroked home to claim the three points.
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Norway's Erling Braut Haaland after the World Cup qualifying match. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Elsewhere, Norway produced the perfect response to second-placed Italy’s dramatic 5-4 victory over Israel on Monday with a 11-1 thumping of Moldova to make it five wins from five in Group I.
Haaland was the star of the show, scoring a first-half hat-trick before nodding in his fourth goal not long after the restart.
Martin Odegaard grabbed a goal and two assists. Felix Myhre found the net early on after being picked out by Haaland.
Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard came off the bench to add a seventh, although Moldova did grab themselves a consolation with a Leo Ostigard own goal, only for Aasgaard to score again.
Haaland stepped aside when Norway were awarded a penalty shortly afterwards, allowing the 23-year-old Aasgaard to complete an 11-minute hat-trick.
There were further goals for Haaland and Aasgaard as Moldova crumbled.
Norway, who downed four-time world champions Italy earlier in qualifying and are bidding to qualify for a first World Cup since 1998, moved six points clear of the Azzurri having played a game more.
Iceland made a dream start at the Parc des Princes as Arni Gudjohnsen, son of former Chelsea striker Eidur and playing alongside younger brother Daniel, put the away team ahead against France in the 21st minute.
France equalised on the stroke of half-time through a Kylian Mbappe penalty.
Mbappe turned provider as Didier Deschamps’ men moved in front, racing onto Aurelien Tchouameni’s ball over the top before squaring for Bradley Barcola to tap into an empty net.
Les Bleus clung on for a 2-1 success despite Tchouameni’s sending off and a late effort from Arni Gudjohnsen that was disallowed by VAR.
France, World Cup runners-up in 2022, sit three points clear of Iceland in Group D, with Ukraine and Azerbaijan two points further adrift after playing out a 1-1 draw in Baku.
Elsewhere, Austria drew level with Bosnia and Herzegovina at the top of Group H with a 2-1 win in Zenica.
European 2026 World Cup qualifying results on Tuesday:
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Ronaldo equals record as Portugal beat Hungary to consolidate top spot in Ireland's group
JOAO CANCELO slotted home from the edge of the box to snatch Portugal a thrilling 3-2 win at Hungary on Tuesday, sending them top of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group.
Cristiano Ronaldo was also on target as Roberto Martinez’s side secured their second win from their two opening games against the spirited hosts, for whom Barnabas Varga netted twice in Budapest.
Portugal lead Group F on six points from Armenia on three after their win over the Republic of Ireland earlier on.
Nations League champions Portugal were high on confidence after thumping Armenia 5-0 on Saturday and dominated possession.
However, it was Hungary who took the lead as Ferencvaros striker Varga found a gap in Portugal’s defence and nodded home Zsolt Nagy’s cross.
Portugal responded by pouring forward, and Hungary goalkeeper Balazs Toth made a stunning save to deny Ronaldo from close range after half an hour.
The visitors levelled six minutes later with Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva lashing into the roof of the net after the ball broke his way in the box.
Portugal took the lead after 58 minutes through veteran striker Ronaldo, aiming to become the first player to feature at six different World Cup finals.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner won the spot-kick when his shot was handled by Loic Nego, and he squeezed it into the bottom left corner beyond Toth’s outstretched fingertips.
Ronaldo became the player who has scored the joint-most goals in World Cup qualifying history, level with retired Guatemala international Carlos Ruiz, as he bagged his 39th.
Hungary, who last qualified for the World Cup in 1986 and have never beaten Portugal in 15 attempts, equalised with another Varga header from Nego’s cross after 84 minutes.
Just two minutes later, Portugal stole the ball back high up the pitch and Cancelo stroked home to claim the three points.
Elsewhere, Norway produced the perfect response to second-placed Italy’s dramatic 5-4 victory over Israel on Monday with a 11-1 thumping of Moldova to make it five wins from five in Group I.
Haaland was the star of the show, scoring a first-half hat-trick before nodding in his fourth goal not long after the restart.
Martin Odegaard grabbed a goal and two assists. Felix Myhre found the net early on after being picked out by Haaland.
Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard came off the bench to add a seventh, although Moldova did grab themselves a consolation with a Leo Ostigard own goal, only for Aasgaard to score again.
Haaland stepped aside when Norway were awarded a penalty shortly afterwards, allowing the 23-year-old Aasgaard to complete an 11-minute hat-trick.
There were further goals for Haaland and Aasgaard as Moldova crumbled.
Norway, who downed four-time world champions Italy earlier in qualifying and are bidding to qualify for a first World Cup since 1998, moved six points clear of the Azzurri having played a game more.
Iceland made a dream start at the Parc des Princes as Arni Gudjohnsen, son of former Chelsea striker Eidur and playing alongside younger brother Daniel, put the away team ahead against France in the 21st minute.
France equalised on the stroke of half-time through a Kylian Mbappe penalty.
Mbappe turned provider as Didier Deschamps’ men moved in front, racing onto Aurelien Tchouameni’s ball over the top before squaring for Bradley Barcola to tap into an empty net.
Les Bleus clung on for a 2-1 success despite Tchouameni’s sending off and a late effort from Arni Gudjohnsen that was disallowed by VAR.
France, World Cup runners-up in 2022, sit three points clear of Iceland in Group D, with Ukraine and Azerbaijan two points further adrift after playing out a 1-1 draw in Baku.
Elsewhere, Austria drew level with Bosnia and Herzegovina at the top of Group H with a 2-1 win in Zenica.
European 2026 World Cup qualifying results on Tuesday:
Group D
Azerbaijan 1 (Makhmudov 72-pen) Ukraine 1 (Sudakov 51)
France 2 (Mbappe 45-pen, Barcola 62) Iceland 1 (A. Gudjohnsen 21)
Group F
Armenia 2 (Spertsyan 45+1-pen, Ranos 51) Ireland 1 (Ferguson 57)
Hungary 2 (Varga 21, 84) Portugal 3 (Silva 36, Ronaldo 58-pen, Cancelo 86)
Group H
Cyprus 2 (Loizou 29, Charalampous) Romania 2 (Dragus 2, 18)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 (Dzeko 50) Austria 2 (Sabitzer 49, Laimer 65)
Group I
Norway 11 (Myrhe 6, Haaland 11, 36, 43, 52, 83, Odegaard 45+1, Aasgaard 67, 76, 79-pen, 90+1) Moldova 1 (Ostigard 74-og)
Group K
Serbia 0 England 5 (Kane 33, Madueke 35, Konsa 52, Guehi 75, Rashford 90-pen)
Albania 1 (Asllani 25-pen) Latvia 0
– © AFP 2025
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