Dominik Szoboszlai finally got the chance to face his childhood idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, when Hungary hosted Portugal in Budapest — and the game produced a special moment between the two captains.

The match ended in dramatic fashion as Portugal edged Hungary 3-2, with João Cancelo’s late strike sealing the win after Barnabás Varga had briefly drawn the hosts level. Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva were also on target for the visitors.

After the final whistle, Szoboszlai handed his shirt to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. However, Ronaldo had already swapped his own jersey with another player. Not wanting to leave the Liverpool midfielder disappointed, the 40-year-old made a promise — he’ll give Szoboszlai his shirt when the sides meet again in Lisbon next month. 👕🔥

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From Mascot to Captain 👶➡️👑

A heartwarming twist to the story came before kickoff when a photo went viral of a young Szoboszlai acting as a mascot back in 2009 — standing beside none other than Ronaldo himself. Fast forward sixteen years, and the Hungarian skipper is now sharing the pitch as an equal against the very player he once idolized.

“I’ve played against many great players, but never him,” Szoboszlai said before the clash. “Since childhood, he’s been my idol. Finally, the moment has arrived.” 💬❤️

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Szoboszlai’s Versatility Impresses Managers 🔄⚽

While Ronaldo continues to shine for Portugal, Szoboszlai is carving out his own reputation at both club and international level. Recently, he has even been used at right-back for Liverpool under Arne Slot — a role he could continue in when the Premier League resumes against Burnley.

For Hungary, manager Marco Rossi praised his ability to adapt, especially after playing as a holding midfielder against Ireland when his team was reduced to ten men.

“Dominik has shown he can play anywhere,” Rossi explained. “But I truly believe he has the potential to become one of the very best defensive midfielders in the world.” 🌍💎

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👉 Next month’s Portugal vs Hungary clash in Lisbon won’t just be about World Cup qualification points — fans will be watching closely to see if Ronaldo finally delivers on his promise to Szoboszlai.