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BUDAPEST: Joao Cancelo slotted home from the edge of the box to snatch Portugal a thrilling 3-2 win at Hungary on Tuesday, sending them top of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group.
Cristiano Ronaldo was also on target as Roberto Martinez’s side secured their second win from their two opening games against the spirited hosts, for whom Barnabas Varga netted twice in Budapest.
Portugal lead Group F on six points from Armenia on three after their win over the Republic of Ireland earlier.
“We knew it would be complicated, we made mistakes and allowed transitions,” said Bernardo Silva, who levelled for Portugal after Varga opened the scoring.
“It’s always difficult to find balance, probably one of the hardest things in football, especially against teams that defend with such a low block.
“Above all, it is a young team that is still growing, but the most important thing is the six points, and we took a giant step toward securing qualification for the World Cup.”
Nations League champions Portugal were high on confidence after thumping Armenia 5-0 on Saturday and dominated possession.
However, it was Hungary who took the lead as Ferencvaros striker Varga found a gap in Portugal’s defense and nodded home Zsolt Nagy’s cross.
Portugal responded by pouring forward and Hungary goalkeeper Balazs Toth made a stunning save to deny Ronaldo from close range after half an hour.
The visitors levelled six minutes later with Manchester City midfielder Silva lashing into the roof of the net after the ball broke his way in the box.
Portugal took the lead after 58 minutes through veteran striker Ronaldo, aiming to become the first player to feature at six different World Cup finals.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner won the spot-kick when his shot was handled by Loic Nego, and he squeezed it into the bottom left corner beyond Toth’s outstretched fingertips.
Ronaldo became the player who has scored the joint-most goals in World Cup qualifying history, level with retired Guatemala international Carlos Ruiz, as he bagged his 39th.
Hungary, who last qualified for the World Cup in 1986 and have never beaten Portugal in 15 attempts, equalized with another Varga header from Nego’s cross after 84 minutes.
Just two minutes later Portugal stole the ball back high up the pitch and Cancelo stroked home to claim the three points.
“It’s hard to win when you concede two goals,” said Martinez.
“I loved the attitude and focus. We just needed to control the game and take it where we wanted. It’s a perfect match for improvement.”

PARIS: France striker Kylian Mbappe scored one goal and set up another as the hosts came from behind to claim a fortunate 2-1 win against Iceland on Tuesday, maintaining their perfect start in World Cup qualifying Group D.
The result left Didier Deschamps’s side top of the standings with six points from two games, three clear of Iceland. Ukraine and Azerbaijan have one point each after drawing 1-1 earlier on Tuesday.
Iceland’s Andri Lucas Gudjohnsen thought he had grabbed a dramatic equalizer two minutes from time when he bundled the ball over the line, but VAR canceled out the goal after replays showed he had pulled Ibrahima Konate’s shirt.
Gudjohnsen had earlier punished a Michael Olize mistake to put Iceland ahead only for Mbappe to equalize with a penalty to level the score at the break, before laying on Bradley Barcola’s winner just past the hour mark.
France played the last 20 minutes with 10 men after Aurelien Tchouameni was sent off for a reckless challenge, but they held firm to extend a 32-year run in which only Spain have beaten them at home in a World Cup qualifier.
“It was tough during the whole game. We managed to score and that’s the main takeaway tonight,” said Barcola.
“After the break we sought to play faster to unsettle them. We’ve played our two main rivals in the group, it was important to win.”
Deschamps said captain Mbappe was “in a good headspace.”
“He puts in a lot of effort, offers solutions and is effective,” Deschamps said. “He’s a very good leader for the whole group.”
Missing Paris St. Germain forward Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue through injury, France fell behind in the 17th minute when Olize’s back pass was intercepted by Gudjohnsen, who poked the ball past Mike Maignan.
The hosts responded as Marcus Thuram and Manu Kone forced a superb double save from Elias Rafn Olafsson and Barcola volleyed narrowly over, before Thuram was tripped in the area and Mbappe buried the resulting penalty on the stroke of halftime.
After the break, Olize rattled the crossbar before Mbappe led a swift counterattack and squared for Barcola to tap home in the 62nd minute.
Mbappe almost added a third but was denied by Olafsson, and although Gudjohnsen thought he had struck again at the death, the VAR review ensured France emerged with maximum points.
France next face Azerbaijan at home on Oct 10 and Iceland away three days later.