Back in 2009, when Portugal defeated Hungary 3-0 in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, a young mascot stood beside Cristiano Ronaldo, who at the time was at the peak of his career. That boy was none other than Dominik Szoboszlai.
Sixteen years later, Szoboszlai has grown into the captain of the Hungarian national team, a rising star for Liverpool, and one of Europe’s brightest footballers. Now, he is preparing to face the very idol who once inspired him. In the early hours of September 10, Hungary will host Portugal in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
At the pre-match press conference, Szoboszlai expressed his emotions: “I’ve faced many great players, but never Ronaldo. Since I was a kid, he has been my idol. Finally, this moment has come.”
What was once an unforgettable childhood memory of standing next to his hero has now turned into a reality where Szoboszlai will step onto the pitch to play against the man who inspired his entire career. It’s the magic of football — where past, present, and dreams all come together.
However, the challenge is immense. Just days earlier, on September 7, Ronaldo scored a brace in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Armenia. At 40 years old, the former Manchester United forward shows no signs of slowing down.
CR7 has now reached 38 goals in World Cup qualifying, just one short of Carlos Ruiz’s all-time record of 39. A goal against Hungary could see Ronaldo break yet another record.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
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