Football is a funny game. Sometimes the stats tell you one thing, but the 90 minutes on the grass tell a completely different story. If you look at the history of the Hungary national football team vs Portugal national football team, you’ll see a lopsided record. Portugal hasn’t actually lost a senior men’s match to Hungary. Ever.
But if you ask any Portuguese fan who watched the 2026 World Cup qualifiers recently, they’ll tell you it didn’t feel like a "sure thing." Not even close.
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The Night Budapest Almost Shook
In September 2025, the Puskás Aréna was basically a pressure cooker. Hungary, led by the Liverpool duo of Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez, came out swinging. Most people expect Hungary to park the bus against big teams, but under Marco Rossi, they’ve become this weird, stubborn side that loves a scrap.
Barnabás Varga—who is rapidly becoming a cult hero in Budapest—put Hungary ahead in the 21st minute. The place went mental. You could barely hear the whistle. But that’s the thing about Portugal; they have this annoying habit of finding a way back. Bernardo Silva equalized before the break, and then the inevitable happened.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 40 and still somehow outrunning people half his age, converted a penalty in the 58th minute.
The game looked buried. Then Varga scored again in the 84th minute to make it 2-2. For about 120 seconds, it looked like Hungary would finally break the "Portugal Curse." Then João Cancelo decided to ruin the party with an absolute rocket in the 86th minute to seal a 3-2 win for the Seleção. Heartbreaking for the Magyars, honestly.
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Why Portugal Always Struggles with Hungary
On paper, Portugal has the better squad. They’ve got Ruben Dias at the back, Bruno Fernandes pulling strings, and a bench that would start for almost any other country. Yet, Hungary always makes it ugly for them.
Think back to Euro 2016. That 3-3 draw was one of the wildest games in tournament history. Hungary took the lead three separate times, and Portugal had to claw back every single time. It’s a tactical nightmare for Portugal because Hungary plays a very specific 3-4-2-1 or 5-2-2-1 that clogs the middle.
Key Head-to-Head Figures (All-Time):
- Portugal Wins: 10
- Draws: 4
- Hungary Wins: 0
- Portugal Goals: 33
- Hungary Goals: 10
Basically, Portugal dominates the scoreboard, but Hungary dominates the "stress levels" of the Portuguese coaching staff.
The CR7 Factor in 2026
We have to talk about Ronaldo. During the return leg in October 2025 at the Estádio José Alvalade, the Hungary national football team vs Portugal national football team rivalry hit another milestone. Ronaldo scored a brace in a 2-2 draw. Those goals weren't just for show; they made him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifiers across the entire planet, surpassing Carlos Ruiz.
He’s sitting on 41 qualifying goals now.
But the 2-2 draw also exposed some cracks. Portugal looked slow in transition. Attila Szalai scored early for Hungary, and even though Ronaldo turned it around, Dominik Szoboszlai hammered home a 91st-minute equalizer. It proved that while Portugal has the individual brilliance, Hungary has the collective "engine" that just won't quit.
Tactical Nuances You Might Have Missed
When these two play, the game is usually won or lost in the wide areas. In the recent 3-2 victory for Portugal, João Cancelo was the best player on the pitch not because of his goal, but because of his positioning. He spent more time as a central midfielder than a right-back.
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Hungary tries to isolate the wing-backs. They want Kerkez and Bolla to pin back Portugal's full-backs. When it works, Portugal looks stagnant. When it fails, guys like Rafael Leão or Pedro Neto find acres of space to run into.
What’s Next for This Matchup?
As we head toward the 2026 World Cup, both teams are in a solid spot in Group F. Portugal is leading, obviously, but Hungary is comfortably fighting for that second spot.
If you’re following these teams, keep an eye on:
- The Goalkeeping Transition: Balázs Tóth has been massive for Hungary, making 7 saves in the last Portugal meeting.
- The "Post-Ronaldo" Prep: Roberto Martinez is starting to give more minutes to Gonçalo Ramos and Francisco Conceição, but the team still looks for Ronaldo whenever they need a goal.
- Hungary’s Set Pieces: Szoboszlai is arguably the best dead-ball specialist in Europe right now. Every corner against Portugal feels like a half-penalty.
If you're looking to place a bet or just want to sound smart at the pub, don't just look at the "0 wins" for Hungary. Look at the goal margins. Since 2016, these games are almost always decided by one goal or end in a high-scoring draw.
The gap is closing. Portugal is still the king of this fixture, but Hungary is no longer the underdog that just shows up to lose. They’re the team that makes you earn every single blade of grass.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for the next international break. If Szoboszlai is healthy, Hungary can take points off anyone. If Portugal’s defense remains this shaky without a fit Ruben Dias, that "zero" in the win column for Hungary might finally turn into a "one."
Keep track of the Group F standings as we approach the final rounds of qualification; the goal difference between these two could be the factor that decides who gets the "easier" draw in the summer of 2026.