Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Portugal on Saturday but says his personal accomplishments don't matter in the face of helping his country qualifying for the World Cup.

Ronaldo's brace takes his tally to nine through five games of the qualifying campaign, two more than than other other European player.

He also reached 70 career goals for Portugal, which moved him within one of Germany's Miroslav Klose for third place among Europe's all-time top international scorers.

But the Real Madrid star said he's only focused on playing in Russia in 2018.

"I know how many goals I have but that's not the most important thing," he told RTP. "What matters is that we won and we're in the fight to go to the World Cup.

"We started out timid. We were slow to react to their tactics, but everything changed with the first goal. The team played better, more confidently, and the goals came naturally.

"The team is good. We have a lot of young players."

Ronaldo also singled out Andre Silva, the Porto starlet who scored the opener for Portugal in Saturday's 3-0 win over Hungary.

"He's done very well since he started with the national team," Ronaldo said. "He's done a phenomenal job, not only with his goals."

Portugal boss Fernando Santos warned his players that they were only halfway though the qualifying process.

"We had six finals. From this point, we have five left to reach our goal of reaching the World Cup from first place in our group," he told RTP. "Hungary tried to block our way but we adapted very well to the three central midfielders and we did not allow them to come out and play.

"I think we were slow in our ball circulation during a period of the first half. We should have done it faster, especially on the flanks. With a lot of balls in the air, against players of this calibre, it's very difficult.

"After the first goal, the game was unlocked and we found our way through much better. In the second half we always had the game under control. It was a fair victory, with some good things and some things we can do even better."

Next up for Portugal is a friendly against Sweden in Ronaldo's home island of Madeira.

"It will be beautiful," Ronaldo said. "The national team haven't been to Madeira for many years. It will be good for the people of Madeira."

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by ESPN Staff

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