Dominik Szoboszlai signed off on a long season with another dominant display for Hungary, on a night when Armin Pecsi made his senior international debut.
Szoboszlai played more minutes than ever before in his career in an outstanding individual campaign that saw him named Liverpool’s Player of the Season.
The midfielder was also an ever-present as Hungary captain in a season that saw them narrowly miss out on a place at the World Cup.
With no tournament to come this summer, Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Kazakhstan was Szoboszlai’s 63rd and final game of 2025/26.
He marked it with a goal and assist to bring his season’s tally for club and country to 15 and 18 respectively.
Liverpool youngster Armin Pecsi’s first Hungary cap
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 3, 2026: Liverpool subsititute goalkeeper Ármin Pécsi during the pre-match warm-up before the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It was a night which also brought Liverpool goalkeeper Pecsi’s senior debut for Hungary, with the 21-year-old coming off the bench in the 62nd minute and keeping a clean sheet in his half-hour on the pitch.
Playing on the left – in a game which Milos Kerkez missed for personal reasons – Szoboszlai, like the rest of his team-mates, endured a difficult second half.
Kazakhstan went a goal up within nine minutes through 36-year-old centre-back Sergyi Malyi, with the nation ranked 110th in the world holding onto their 1-0 lead to half-time.
Though head coach Marco Rossi had intended to take Szoboszlai off, he remained on for the full 90 minutes and played a key role in a three-goal comeback.
2PHGGY2 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - MARCH 27: Dominik Szoboszlai of Hungary reacts during the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group B match between Hungary and Bulgaria at Puskas Arena on March 27, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.
He scored the equaliser just seven minutes after the restart, finishing well from substitute Tamas Szucs’ cross, before assisting Andras Schafer’s powerful effort to make it 2-1.
Rajmund Toth then sealed the friendly victory to ensure Hungary stay unbeaten for the whole of 2026 so far.
According to FotMob, Szoboszlai had the most touches (95), created the most chances (six), won the most duels (13) and had the most shots (four) and shots on target (two) of any player on the night.
Hungary manager: ‘Szoboszlai is our only top player’
2PHC77K Hungary's Dominik Szoboszlai reacts during the Euro 2024 group G qualifying soccer match between Hungary and Bulgaria at the Puskas Arena stadium in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
“We discussed with Dominik that he should rest a bit, I would substitute him, but we were tied 1-1 for a long time and we needed him,” Rossi told reporters per Index.
“He is at the end of a long season, he was a bit tired. He played with pure heart, he ran a lot, that is important for the team.”
Rossi added: “If it were possible, we would have 11 Szoboszlais on the pitch. We have good players, but we only have one top player.”