In a thrilling UEFA World Cup qualifier, Portugal drew 2-2 with Hungary, but the spotlight belonged to Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored twice to surpass Carlos Ruiz as the all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifiers with 41 goals . The 40-year-old’s clinical finishes broke a 39-goal tie with Ruiz (Guatemala), extending his legendary tally.
All-Time World Cup Qualifiers Scoring Chart:
| Rank | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) | 41 |
| 2 | Carlos Ruiz (GUA) | 39 |
| 3 | Lionel Messi (ARG) | 36 |
| 4 | Ali Daei (IRN) | 35 |
| 5 | Robert Lewandowski (POL) | 33 |
| 6 | Luis Suárez (URU), Sardar Azmoun (IRN), Chris Wood (NZL) | 29 |
Ronaldo’s brace came in Portugal’s Group F clash, where he converted a first-half penalty and a late header to secure a point . This milestone underscores his enduring dominance in international football, with 41 goals across 62 qualifiers spanning 20 years .
