In a heart-stopping encounter in Budapest, Portugal narrowly escaped with a 3-2 victory against a resilient Hungary in their 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifier. The match, filled with twists and turns, saw Joao Cancelo play the hero, netting the decisive goal that sent Portugal to the top of Group F.

Hungary, playing in front of a fervent home crowd, proved to be a formidable opponent. Barnabas Varga emerged as a constant threat, scoring twice with headers, first in the 21st minute and again in the 84th minute. His first goal was a result of a cross from Zsolt Nagy, putting Hungary ahead against the run of play. His second, a header from a Loic Nego cross, leveled the score late in the game, threatening to snatch away Portugal's victory.

Portugal, however, displayed their resilience and attacking prowess throughout the match. Bernardo Silva equalized for Portugal in the 36th minute, lashing the ball into the roof of the net after it broke his way in the box. Cristiano Ronaldo, aiming to play in his sixth World Cup, converted a penalty in the 58th minute to give Portugal the lead. The penalty was awarded after Loic Nego handled Ronaldo's shot in the box. This goal marked Ronaldo's 39th in World Cup qualifying matches, tying him with retired Guatemalan forward Carlos Ruiz as the all-time top scorer in World Cup qualification history.

Despite Portugal's dominance in possession, Hungary remained dangerous on the counter-attack. The game was characterized by end-to-end action and moments of brilliance from both sides. Just when it seemed Hungary might secure a draw, Joao Cancelo stepped up to secure the win for Portugal. In the 86th minute, Cancelo received the ball and stroked a composed finish from the edge of the box into the bottom corner, silencing the home crowd and securing a vital three points for his team.

Portugal's coach, Roberto Martinez, acknowledged the difficulty of the match and praised his team's focus and attitude. He highlighted the importance of finding solutions and lauded the team's resilience. Bernardo Silva echoed his coach's sentiments, noting the complications and mistakes made during the game. He emphasized the difficulty of maintaining balance, particularly against teams that defend deep.

With this victory, Portugal leads Group F with two wins, followed by Armenia. Hungary and Ireland remain winless. Portugal will face Ireland in October, looking to further solidify their position at the top of the group.