Dominik Szoboszlai Meets His Idol Cristiano Ronaldo on the Pitch for the First Time

Team captain Dominik Szoboszlai would be satisfied with a draw for the Hungarian national football team against Portugal on Tuesday in the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.

"I would sign up for a draw against Portugal in a heartbeat, and I think everyone else would too," said the Liverpool star at a press conference in Telki on Monday. He is particularly looking forward to this match because Cristiano Ronaldo has been his idol since childhood, and this will be his first chance to meet him on the pitch.

The 24-year-old footballer also recalled that exactly 16 years ago to the day, he was a player escort against the Portuguese, adding that he still clearly remembers his feelings at the time.

"The expectation is that everyone will give their heart and soul, because then, regardless of the result, we can leave the pitch with our heads held high. The goal or dream is to qualify for the World Cup, but at least to reach the play-offs. Portugal is ahead of us in terms of quality, but we have to fight, run and battle as long as we can," Szoboszlai told MTI when asked about his goals and expectations. He also revealed that although he has played in many positions for his clubs and the national team, he prefers to play in midfield. "I feel comfortable in midfield, but I play wherever they put me. If the boss decides, we'll sit down and discuss it."

Regarding the 2-2 draw in Ireland, he said that there is no point in dwelling on the referee and his mistakes, because no matter how much they get upset about it, the result will not change.

"Replacing Roland Sallai will be difficult because he is a key player, but the boss will decide who can play in his place. One thing is certain, everyone here is waiting for their chance and will make the most of it," said Szoboszlai about the Galatasaray player, who will be suspended due to his red card in Dublin. "The second day after a match is always the hardest in terms of recovery. We spent the night in Dublin, so we had time to sleep and rest, and we'll be ready for the match."

The Hungary-Portugal match, which will be broadcast live on M4 Sport, Kossuth Radio, and Nemzeti Sportrádió, will kick off at 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday at the sold-out Puskás Arena, which will also host the Champions League final next year.

The winners of the 12 groups will qualify for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, which will feature 48 teams for the first time. The runners-up will continue to fight for World Cup participation in the play-offs next March.

Source: MTI.hu

Photo: MTI.hu/Purger Tamás