Ronaldo’s Double vs. Hungary Moves Him Closer to 1,000 Career Goals

 Cristiano Ronaldo has done it again. The 40-year-old football icon added another chapter to his incredible legacy by scoring twice in Portugal’s 2–2 draw against Hungary in the latest World Cup qualifier — bringing him one giant step closer to his dream of 1,000 career goals.

Ronaldo Breaks Yet Another Record

Hungary stunned Portugal early on when Attila Szalai opened the scoring in the 8th minute. But, as so often before, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up when his team needed him most. The Portuguese captain equalized in the 22nd minute and then struck again just before halftime, giving Portugal a 2–1 lead.

Although Dominik Szoboszlai’s late equalizer denied Portugal a guaranteed World Cup spot, Ronaldo’s personal milestones stole the show.

With his first goal of the match, Ronaldo broke the all-time World Cup qualifying goal record, surpassing Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz. His brace brought his total to 41 goals in 50 World Cup qualifying appearances — the most in history.

That performance also raised his international tally to 143 goals and his career total to 947 goals across club and country — moving him just 53 goals away from reaching an unimaginable 1,000-goal milestone.

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The Chase for 1,000 Goals

At 40 years old, Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down. From his early days at Sporting CP and Manchester United, to his record-shattering years at Real Madrid, his stint at Juventus, and now as the star forward for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has maintained a level of consistency that’s virtually unmatched in world football.

He’s already the top scorer in Champions League history and the leading scorer in men’s international football — yet the idea of hitting 1,000 goals could set him apart forever.

Former Manchester United coach René Meulensteen, who worked closely with Ronaldo during his Old Trafford days, recently joked that goalkeepers might actually want to let Ronaldo’s 1,000th goal in.

“He will be remembered for 1,000 goals,” Meulensteen said. “If it’s done in a spectacular way — maybe for Portugal — the world will be watching. Imagine being the goalkeeper who concedes that goal. You’d be remembered forever.”

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Portugal Still Chasing World Cup Qualification

Despite Ronaldo’s heroics, Portugal missed the chance to secure early qualification for the 2026 World Cup after the 2–2 draw with Hungary. They’ll now need to wait until November to confirm their spot.

Still, Ronaldo remains the heartbeat of the team. Even at 40, he continues to play a pivotal role for the Seleção das Quinas, providing both leadership and goals when it matters most.

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A Legacy Still in Motion

Ronaldo’s list of achievements reads like a footballing fairy tale:
🏆 5 Champions League titles
🏆 League titles in England, Spain, and Italy
🏆 The 2016 UEFA European Championship
🏆 The 2019 Nations League

The only major trophy missing from his glittering cabinet is the FIFA World Cup — a prize his long-time rival Lionel Messi lifted in 2022. That achievement reignited the never-ending GOAT debate, but Ronaldo may yet have one final shot at redemption in North America in 2026.

For now, all eyes are on his next milestone — the magic number 1,000. And if history has taught us anything about Cristiano Ronaldo, it’s this: never bet against him.