While Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated another record-breaking night, Bruno Fernandes endured frustration as Portugal drew 2-2 with Hungary in Lisbon.
The Manchester United midfielder was booked during the tense World Cup qualifier, earning a suspension that rules him out of the next match.
Fernandes struggled to impose himself before being substituted after just 62 minutes, capping a disappointing evening for Portugal’s creative engine, reports Mirror.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo scored twice, reaching 41 World Cup qualifying goals, surpassing Carlos Ruiz’s previous record of 39 to become football’s all-time qualifying top scorer.
However, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai stunned Portugal with a stoppage-time free-kick, denying them early qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Portuguese Media Question Fernandes’ Form And Fitness
Portuguese outlets have since questioned Fernandes’ sharpness, suggesting fatigue and overuse could be impacting his form for both club and country.
The midfielder’s yellow card means he will miss the penultimate Group F clash against Ireland in Dublin, a crucial fixture for Portugal.
Read Also: Ronaldo Shatters Another Record — But Portugal’s World Cup Party on Ice!
After the game, Fernandes admitted the team struggled against Hungary’s compact setup, praising their organization and ability to threaten on counterattacks.
Despite his poor outing, the Portugal vice-captain remains confident qualification is inevitable and insists lessons must be learned ahead of future tournaments.
Portugal remain five points clear atop Group F, with two matches left to confirm their spot at next year’s World Cup finals.
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