Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid to make history at the 2026 World Cup got off to a frustrating start as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo, with several former players questioning both his performance and manager Roberto Martinez’s decision to keep him on the pitch for the entire match.
The spotlight had been firmly on the Portugal captain after a remarkable Tuesday that saw some of football’s biggest stars deliver memorable displays. France forward Kylian Mbappe scored twice against Senegal to become his country’s all-time leading scorer, while Norway striker Erling Haaland marked his World Cup debut with a brace against Iraq. Lionel Messi then stole the headlines with a hat-trick against Algeria, drawing level with Miroslav Klose as the highest scorer in World Cup finals history.
That left Ronaldo with the opportunity to become the first player ever to score in six different World Cups. However, the 41-year-old was unable to find the net as Portugal failed to turn their dominance into victory.
Ronaldo, who became the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match at 41 years and 132 days old, struggled to influence proceedings despite remaining on the field for the full 90 minutes. Former France striker Thierry Henry criticised a late attacking moment when Ronaldo appeared to move into the path of a pass intended for Bruno Fernandes.
Henry argued that had Ronaldo made a different run, Fernandes would have been left with a simple finish. Instead, he suggested the veteran’s desire to score may have affected the team’s decision-making in a crucial moment.
Before the match, former England captain Wayne Rooney had predicted Ronaldo would be highly motivated after seeing Mbappe, Haaland and Messi shine in the opening days of the tournament. Rooney said the Portuguese star’s competitive nature and long-standing rivalry with Messi had always driven him to respond when challenged.
Portugal started brightly and took the lead after only six minutes when Joao Neves expertly headed home a cross from Pedro Neto. Yet DR Congo responded well and Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa equalised shortly before half-time.
Despite controlling 75% of possession, Portugal produced only seven attempts on goal and managed just one effort on target, which resulted in Neves’ opener.
Ronaldo’s best opportunities came midway through the second half. Substitute Francisco Conceicao twice delivered cut-backs from the right flank. The first chance arrived slightly behind Ronaldo, whose effort drifted wide, while the second saw him hurried by defenders before firing off target.
The Al-Nassr striker, who is closing in on 1,000 career goals for club and country, has now gone 10 consecutive major tournament matches without scoring since converting a penalty against Ghana at the 2022 World Cup. He also recorded just 25 touches, the fewest of any Portugal outfield player to complete the match.
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Chris Sutton questioned Martinez’s reluctance to substitute Ronaldo, suggesting the Portugal coach appeared unwilling to remove his captain despite an ineffective display. Sutton argued that the game had passed the veteran by long before the final whistle.
Rooney, meanwhile, defended Ronaldo’s ability to remain a threat if provided with clear opportunities, insisting goals still come when he receives quality service.
Former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Gael Clichy also raised concerns about Ronaldo’s influence on the team’s attacking decisions. He suggested that younger players may subconsciously look to pass to such an iconic figure rather than taking responsibility themselves.
Clichy pointed to one of Conceicao’s second-half opportunities, arguing the winger may have been better served shooting himself rather than searching for Ronaldo. He stressed that the situation was not necessarily Ronaldo’s fault, but believed his presence can sometimes alter the natural flow of a team’s play.
The former France international added that managing such situations is part of a coach’s responsibility, particularly when balancing a player’s reputation against what is happening on the pitch.
Portugal now face increased pressure to improve in their remaining group matches, while Ronaldo’s pursuit of a historic sixth World Cup scoring campaign remains unresolved.