41 goals in 50 games...40-year-old Ronaldo records most goals scored in World Cup qualifiers

Oct 15, 2025

41 goals in 50 games...40-year-old Ronaldo records most goals scored in World Cup qualifiers
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group F - Portugal v Hungary - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - October 14, 2025 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY



Cristiano Ronaldo (40, Al Nasr) has set a new record for the most goals scored in World Cup qualifiers ever.

Ronaldo scored multiple goals in the fourth Group F match of the 2026 North-China World Cup European qualifying round against Hungary at Estadio José Alvarad in Lisbon, Portugal on the 15th (Korea time). With the two goals, Ronaldo scored 41 goals in 50 World Cup qualifying matches, surpassing the record of most goals scored in the qualifying round held by Guatemala's Carlos Luis.

Ronaldo, a former Portuguese youth representative, made his senior debut against Kazakhstan in August 2003 when he was 18. Since then, he has played a number of international competitions from Euro 2004 to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Starting with the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he played in five World Cups, including 2010 South Africa, 2014 Brazil, and 2018 Russia. He scored 143 goals in 225 A matches, marking a milestone in Portuguese soccer history. He is also responsible for attacking the Portuguese national team this year when he turned 40.




41 goals in 50 games...40-year-old Ronaldo records most goals scored in World Cup qualifiers
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group F - Portugal v Hungary - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - October 14, 2025 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
Ronaldo also played a one-man show against Hungary. He scored an equalizer in the 22nd minute of the first half when Nelson Semed's cross was finished with his left foot, and in the extra time of the first half, Nunu Mendes' cross was volleyed to score an upset goal. Portugal lost points in extra time in the second half, ending a 2-2 winless match, but Ronaldo's true value was clearly confirmed.

With two games remaining in the qualifying round, Portugal is alone in first place with three wins, one draw and 10 points. He has secured qualification for the playoffs early by widening the gap with Hungary (5 points) in second place. If only one of the remaining two games is won, the team can confirm its advance to the finals early.

If Ronaldo maintains his current form, he will be able to appear in the finals of the North-China World Cup. If this happens, Ronaldo will set an unprecedented record of '6 World Cup appearances'. However, as criticism remains that Ronaldo-centered offensive tactics rather weaken Portugal's power, as revealed at the Qatar World Cup, there are question marks over what the actual performance will be like in the finals.








This article was translated by Naver AI translator.