Hungary 2-3 Portugal Player Ratings: João Cancelo 9.5/10 Rated as Late Stunner from Visitors Seals 2-3 Thriller

What a game of football we just witnessed! This WC Qualification Europe clash at the Puskás Aréna was an absolute rollercoaster. The final score of 3-2 to Portugal hardly tells the full story of this dramatic match. Hungary gave the favorites an almighty scare with their game plan being spot on. They absorbed pressure and hit on the break with precision. They deservedly took the lead through the brilliant Barnabás Varga goal. Portugal looked a bit stunned, but you can never count them out.

Bernardo Silva pulled one back before halftime, a moment of pure class. Then, the former Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty seemed to set them on course. But back came Hungary, with Varga grabbing his second to level it late on. It felt like a famous result was on the cards. However, João Cancelo had other ideas, smashing home a late winner from distance to break Hungarian hearts. What an end to a thrilling encounter. Here are the Hungary vs Portugal player ratings.

Portugal Player Ratings vs Hungary

Here are the Portugal player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Diogo Costa - 6.0: He conceded two goals, but we felt he wasn't really at fault for either. Varga's headers were just too good. His distribution was solid with an 83% pass accuracy. It wasn't his busiest night for saves. The real issue was the defending in front of him, which left him exposed.

Defenders

Rúben Dias - 6.5: A mixed performance from the defensive leader. He made five crucial clearances and his passing was as crisp as ever. Still, the defense conceded twice and looked vulnerable to Hungary's counters. He seemed a little off his usual dominant standard, especially against the physical Varga.

Nuno Mendes - 7.0: So much energy down the left flank. He was a constant threat going forward, even having a couple of shots. Defensively, he won an impressive seven duels and made four interceptions. He sometimes left space behind him, but his attacking output made up for it.

João Cancelo - 9.5: What a performance. Our man of the match, without a doubt. He scored the breathtaking winner from distance and also grabbed an assist. With 110 touches, he was at the heart of everything. This was a true match-winning display, and the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Rúben Neves - 6.5: Played in a deeper, hybrid role. His range of passing was excellent, spraying the ball around with ease. However, losing possession 14 times is a bit high for a player in his position. He was steady but didn't command the game as we know he can.

Midfielders

Bruno Fernandes - 6.5: A relatively quiet game by his lofty standards. He created a couple of chances before being substituted. We noticed he lost the ball quite a few times in dangerous areas. It was a decent, if unspectacular, outing for the midfielder.

Bernardo Silva - 8.5: He was simply brilliant. Scored the crucial first-half equalizer with a clever finish. He also provided an assist and created three chances. His work rate was phenomenal, as usual. A classic performance full of intelligence and tenacity.

Vitinha - 8.0: A masterclass in midfield control. Completing 100 of 101 passes is just absurdly good. He dictated the entire tempo of the game from deep. He was calm, composed, and always available. A joy to watch.

João Neves - 6.5: Full of energy and running. He got into some great positions but spurned a big chance. We felt his final product was just a little lacking today. He picked up a cynical yellow card for his troubles.

Pedro Neto - 6.5: Looked very lively on the wing with his direct running. His pass accuracy was nearly perfect, and he created two good chances. However, he just didn't quite have that final killer pass or shot before being subbed.

Forwards

Cristiano Ronaldo - 7.0: The captain stepped up and coolly dispatched his penalty. He had three shots on target and was a constant presence. He did miss a big chance, though, and was caught offside a couple of times. He got his goal, but it wasn't his most dominant performance from open play.

Substitutes

Trincão - 6.0: Came on for Fernandes but struggled to make a significant impact on the game.

João Palhinha - N/A: Brought on late to shore things up.

João Félix - N/A: Looked lively in his brief cameo, getting a couple of shots away.

Gonçalo Ramos - N/A: A late replacement for the captain.

António Silva - N/A: Came on to help see out the victory.

Manager

R. Martínez Montoliú - 7.0: His team got the three points, which is all that matters. The attacking philosophy paid off with three goals. However, the defensive frailties exposed by Hungary will be a major concern moving forward. His substitutions helped manage the final stages of the game well.

Hungary Player Ratings vs Portugal

Here are the Hungary player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Balázs Tóth - 7.5: A very strong performance despite conceding three goals. He made four saves, three of which were from inside the box. He couldn't do anything about Cancelo's incredible strike. He definitely kept his team in the game for long stretches.

Defenders

Attila Szalai - 6.5: He had a very busy night against Portugal's fluid attack. Stood his ground with five clearances and three interceptions. He was composed on the ball when he had it. A solid outing in a defence that was under siege.

Willi Orbán - 7.0: A true warrior at the back. He made a staggering 14 clearances. From our perspective, he was a rock, throwing his body on the line. He was a colossal presence for his team, even if it wasn't enough in the end.

Loïc Nego - 6.0: A real mixed bag of a game for him. He provided a fantastic assist for one of the goals which was a huge positive. Unfortunately, he also gave away the penalty that put Portugal ahead. A day of highs and lows.

Milos Kerkez - 6.5: An all-action display from the left-back. He was tenacious in the tackle and battled hard against Portugal's tricky wingers. He got forward to support attacks but his final delivery was inconsistent. A committed performance.

Midfielders

Dominik Szoboszlai - 6.5: The captain tried his best to drive his team forward. He was tidy in possession and drew a couple of key fouls. However, we felt he wasn't as influential in the final third as he could be. A frustrating night for him overall.

Callum Styles - 6.5: He worked tirelessly in the middle of the park. He broke up plays with tackles and interceptions. It was a disciplined and gritty performance. He didn't offer much creativity, but that wasn't his primary role.

Alex Tóth - 6.0: He was neat and tidy in possession for the hour he was on the pitch. He did his defensive duties well. He didn't particularly stand out before being substituted. A functional, rather than spectacular, performance.

Forwards

Barnabás Varga - 9.0: What a player. He was absolutely outstanding. He scored two brilliant goals, showing great instinct and heading ability. He terrorized the Portuguese defence all night, winning six aerial duels. An incredible, striking performance that deserved more.

Bendegúz Bolla - 6.5: His work rate was impressive. He tracked back diligently, making three tackles from a forward position. He didn't pose a huge threat going forward, but his defensive contribution was vital to the team's structure.

Zsolt Nagy - 6.5: He created a big chance and provided an assist in his 60 minutes. He worked hard and was a nuisance. His influence faded a bit as the game went on. A very decent contribution before he was taken off.

Substitutes

Bence Ötvös - 6.0: Replaced Alex Tóth and provided fresh legs in midfield.

Dániel Lukács - 6.0: Came on for Nagy but didn't see much of the ball.

Milán Vitális - N/A: A late substitute.

Zsombor Gruber - N/A: Came on in the final minutes.

Márton Dárdai - N/A: A late defensive change.

Manager

M. Rossi - 7.5: He should be proud of his team. His game plan was nearly executed to perfection. They were organized, spirited, and clinical on the counter-attack. To push a team like Portugal so close was a testament to his tactical setup. Unlucky not to get a point.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is João Cancelo