At 02:54 AM Beijing time on September 10, during the second round of the European World Cup qualifiers Group F, Portugal will visit Hungary. The 40-year-old Portuguese icon is poised to claim the all-time leading scorer spot in World Cup qualifiers. Ronaldo’s determination and peak condition make this a must-win moment!

Top 3 all-time World Cup qualifying scorers:First place is Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala, retired) with 39 goals; second is Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) with 38 goals; third is Lionel Messi (Argentina) also with 38 goals..

There is only one round left in the 2026 World Cup South American qualifiers, while the European qualifiers have just begun. Therefore, Messi cannot catch up to Ronaldo. If Ronaldo scores against Hungary in the qualifier, he will become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifiers. One goal ties the record; two or more will make him the sole leader.

Why is it said that Ronaldo is almost certain to claim the top scorer title tonight? Because Hungary is his fifth favorite team to score against. Ronaldo’s six favorite national teams he has scored most goals against are:11 goals against Luxembourg (world ranking 92); 7 goals each against Lithuania (ranked 143), Sweden (29), and Armenia (105);6 goals againstAndorra (ranked 174),and Hungary (ranked 38).Hungary is included among these teams, with Ronaldo having scored 6 goals against them, tying for his fifth favorite opponent.

There are still 5 matches left in Group F of the European World Cup qualifiers. Portugal’s group opponents include Hungary, Ireland, and Armenia. Armenia is tied as Ronaldo’s second favorite team, against whom he has also scored 6 goals. After this World Cup qualifying cycle, Ronaldo will extend his lead on the all-time World Cup qualifiers scoring chart, solidifying his status as the undisputed top scorer.