Barnabás Varga Strikes Early as Hungary Holds Portugal to a Draw in World Cup Qualifier

Barnabás Varga Strikes Early as Hungary Holds Portugal to a Draw in World Cup Qualifier

Budapest, September 9, 2025 — Hungary’s hopes for World Cup qualification received a major boost on Tuesday evening as Barnabás Varga delivered a moment of brilliance in front of a roaring home crowd, helping his side secure a 1–1 draw against European giants Portugal.

In the 21st minute, Varga broke the deadlock with a clinical header into the bottom left corner, capitalizing on a rapid counterattack orchestrated by Zsolt Nagy. The Ferencváros striker timed his run perfectly, meeting Nagy’s curling cross with precision and power to give Hungary an early lead.

The goal marked Varga’s third in the qualifying campaign and underscored his growing importance to Marco Rossi’s squad. His physical presence and sharp positioning troubled Portugal’s back line throughout the first half, forcing veteran defenders Rúben Dias and Pepe into desperate clearances.

Portugal responded in the 36th minute through Bernardo Silva, who found space at the edge of the box and curled a left-footed strike past Péter Gulácsi. Despite dominating possession (67.5%) and registering 15 shots, Portugal struggled to break down Hungary’s disciplined defensive shape.

Hungary’s midfield trio—Dominik Szoboszlai, Callum Styles, and Ádám Nagy—provided balance and resilience, while Milos Kerkez impressed with his overlapping runs and defensive coverage on the left flank.

With this result, Hungary remains second in Group B, trailing Portugal by just two points. The draw extends Hungary’s unbeaten home record in qualifiers and reinforces their reputation as one of Europe’s most tactically cohesive underdog sides.

Varga’s performance will no doubt fuel speculation about a potential move abroad, with scouts from Bundesliga and Serie A clubs reportedly in attendance. For now, though, his focus remains firmly on helping Hungary reach the 2026 World Cup.