Cristiano Ronaldo scores 2, becomes all-time scorer in WCQ
Portugal was minutes from securing their place in the 2026 World Cup after Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in a 2-2 draw with Hungary in Lisbon on Tuesday.
Though Portugal didn't quite get over the line to clinch their World Cup spot, star man Ronaldo broke yet another record in his illustrious career with the pair of goals.
His first goal broke a tie with former Guatemala player Carlos Ruiz for the most goals in World Cup qualifying at 40, his second put him two clear to make it 41 goals in 50 qualifying matches.
Ronaldo scored his brace in the first half to put Portugal in the lead after Hungary had briefly gone ahead with a Attila Szalai in the eighth minute. With Portugal clinging to a 2-1 lead, Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai scored in second-half stoppage time to earn the visitors a draw and put the brakes on the celebrations for Roberto Martinez's side.
The result left Portugal on 10 points from four games, with Hungary in second with five points. Ronaldo and company can clinch qualification in the November window when they round out qualification with games against Ireland and Armenia.
The two goals also put Ronaldo on 948 career for club and country and he has now scored five or more goals in five of the six World Cup qualifying cycles in which he has taken part.
Ronaldo will be 41 years old next summer for the 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but is fully expected to be a part of the squad that will try to earn Portugal a first-ever trophy at the world's biggest tournament.
In a message on Instagram this morning, Ronaldo said: "It's no secret that representing the National Team means a lot to me, and that's why I'm so proud to have achieved this unique milestone for Portugal. Thank you to everyone who helped me get here. "See you in November to finalize World Cup qualification!"
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
Italy pick up big win, end Israel's bid for World Cup
Italy kept alive their faint hopes of qualifying automatically for the 2026 World Cup as they beat Israel 3-0 despite an underwhelming display in Udine.
In front of a paltry crowd of around 9,000 in Udinese's 25,000-capacity Stadio Friuli, Gennaro Gattuso's team found the victory they needed but not a performance to inspire confidence ahead their meeting with group leaders Norway in November.
Mateo Retegui scored a brace, the first a penalty in added time at the end of the first half before finally settling his team's nerves with a lovely curling finish in the 74th minute.
Gianluca Mancini's header in the third minute of stoppage time added a gloss that his side's shaky display perhaps did not warrant.
The area was declared a "red zone," and supporters were strongly advised to arrive early because of rigorous security checks, with everyone attending having to pass through metal detectors.
"Today wasn't easy for us," Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said. "I want to thank the police who have done an incredible job in these days."
Italy face Moldova in Chisinau before Norway visit Milan on Nov. 16, but given the group leaders' massive goal-difference advantage it will almost certainly require Estonia to take points off Norway in Oslo to keep Italian hopes alive.
Israel should have gone ahead in the first half in Udine. A fine counter-attacking move ended with Tai Baribo moving the ball wide to Manor Solomon, who bore down and drilled a fierce effort goalwards that Gianluigi Donnarumma finger-tipped over the bar with lightning reactions.
Oscar Gloukh then drilled wide of the near post following a good cut-back from Anan Khalaili as Italy tottered, their prospects of reaching next year's finals looking increasingly shaky.
They finally got their break in stoppage time at the end of the first half. Working the ball in from the left flank, Giacomo Raspadori knocked it into the feet of Retegui inside the box. As he sought to turn, a clumsy challenge from Matan Baltaxa sent him to the floor, the defender going through the back of the Al-Qadsiah striker in a doomed effort to reach the ball.
Retegui picked himself up and drilled an excellent penalty into the top corner to make it 1-0.
Donnarumma produced another excellent stop on the hour mark, low down to his right with a strong one-handed block to deny Solomon.
The victory was sealed 16 minutes from time and it was a fine finish from Retegui to clinch it.
Eli Dasa gave the ball away with a poor piece of control in the right-back position, allowing Retegui to nip and advance on goal before unleashing a perfectly placed, curling effort that arched away from goalkeeper Omri Glazer into the top corner.
Federico Dimarco crossed for Mancini to make it three in stoppage time, but it may prove to be academic.
Fewer than 10,000 tickets were sold for the qualifier at the 25,000-seat Stadio Friuli, and there appeared to be fewer people inside the stadium than at the demonstration.
The staging of the game was thrown into doubt last month when UEFA considered suspending Israel over the war and Udine Mayor Alberto Felice De Toni called for the game to be postponed.
"Honestly it wasn't easy ... for many days we were always there thinking that maybe there was the possibility of not playing the match," Gattuso said. "We came, we prepared for it with an environment that we knew was not a festive environment and we felt that."
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