Ronaldo’s Double Not Enough as Szoboszlai’s Late Equalizer Rescues Hungary in Lisbon Draw

Cristiano Ronaldo’s insatiable appetite for the dramatic rarely leaves the Estádio da Luz disappointed. Yet on a night when Portugal seemed poised to extend its perfect run in Europe’s World Cup qualification, the script was hijacked at the death. Dominik Szoboszlai’s coolly dispatched penalty in stoppage time split the points, as Hungary stunned the home faithful with a 2-2 draw—snatching a result that could shape the race for Group A’s summit.

From the opening whistle, the match hummed with urgency befitting its stakes. Portugal, having rallied late to defeat the Republic of Ireland just days earlier, looked to consolidate its position at the group’s pinnacle. Instead, it was Hungary who struck first and silenced the crowd. In merely the eighth minute, Attila Szalai, the defender with a penchant for key moments, out-jumped his marker on a corner, steering a sharp header past Diogo Costa. A hush draped itself over the stadium; for the first time in five matches, Portugal trailed.

If anything, the early deficit seemed to awaken Portugal’s best. The hosts swarmed forward in familiar waves—Bernardo Silva orchestrating from midfield, João Cancelo overlapping with intent, and Ronaldo roaming with predatory purpose. In the 22nd minute, the pressure paid dividends. A sweeping move found João Félix on the flank, delivering a cross that grazed past two Hungarian defenders before Ronaldo nodded it home, drawing Portugal level and reigniting the night.

What followed was a passage of one-way traffic. Hungary, compact and disciplined, absorbed pressure, but Portugal’s persistence was relentless. As the interval approached, a defensive lapse cracked the visitors’ resistance. Silva danced past a pair of Hungarian shirts at the edge of the box, threading a ball into the path of Ronaldo, who swept a low drive inside the far post. At 2-1, the narrative felt almost inevitable—a Portuguese victory, powered again by their talisman.

Yet Hungary, written off by some after their home loss to Portugal last month, revealed the resilience that has kept them in the qualification chase. Marco Rossi’s team, fresh from dispatching Armenia in their previous outing, refused to fade. In the second half, Szoboszlai’s influence grew, and with each foray forward, the belief within Hungary’s ranks became visible.

Still, as the match entered its final throes, Portugal appeared to have weathered the storm. Pepe marshaled the defense with characteristic authority, and Costa was rarely tested—until the dramatic finale. A hopeful Hungarian attack saw Barnabás Varga tumble under pressure on the edge of the area. After a tense VAR review, the Ukrainian referee pointed to the spot. With the clock ticking past ninety, Szoboszlai stepped up and delivered, sending Costa the wrong way and granting Hungary a point that felt almost like a victory.

The final whistle brought a mix of disbelief and disappointment for the Portuguese, who saw their four-match winning streak halted. The draw leaves Portugal atop the group, but with Hungary now breathing down their necks, just two points adrift. The head-to-head narrative between these sides has only intensified: Portugal edged Hungary 3-2 in Budapest last month, but this result suggests the gap has all but vanished.

For Ronaldo, the evening was a reminder of football’s unforgiving margins. His brace—goals 129 and 130 in national colors—extended his record, yet was not enough to seal the win. For Szoboszlai and Hungary, the euphoria at the final whistle was palpable; after laboring to a 2-2 draw in Dublin and rebounding with victory over Armenia, they have now matched the group’s powerhouse on their own turf.

This point could prove pivotal. With fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Armenia still to play, Hungary’s path to qualification remains in their own hands. Portugal, meanwhile, must regroup ahead of their next test, knowing that any slip could open the door further for their challengers.

In Lisbon, a night that seemed destined to be remembered for Ronaldo’s heroics will instead be recalled for Szoboszlai’s ice-cold resolve—and for the sense that, in this qualification campaign, nothing is truly settled until the final whistle.