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Ronaldo Struggles as Portugal Held by DR Congo in World Cup Opener
The Athletic has live coverage of Ghana vs. Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This was supposed to be the day Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at this World Cup.
It didn’t work out that way.
Portugal’s talisman was under even more scrutiny than usual after Tuesday’s World Cup games had been dominated by superhuman performances by superstar footballers: Erling Haaland scoring twice for Norway to help defeat Iraq, Kylian Mbappe getting his own brace as France beat Senegal and then, most memorably, Lionel Messi’s hat-trick for Argentina in a win against Algeria.
But Ronaldo could not match their feats. He struggled to make an impact on a dogged and determined DR Congo, who claimed their first World Cup point thanks to Yoane Wissa’s goal late in the first half, which cancelled out Joao Neves’ early opener.
Tim Spiers, Mark Carey and Chris Waugh analyse the main talking points from the 1-1 draw in Houston, Texas.
How worrying was Ronaldo’s performance?
The stage was set for Ronaldo but, unlike the trio of goalscoring superstars on day six of this World Cup, international football’s record goalscorer couldn’t deliver on the seventh.
And we shouldn’t be too surprised, given Ronaldo’s recent World Cup record.
Now aged 41, he remains prolific in qualification play (five goals in five matches on the road to this World Cup, 10 in nine for the most recent European Championship in 2024) and for his club in Saudi Arabia (28 in 30 games for Al Nassr last season) but is impotent at major tournaments, with only one goal (and that was a penalty) in 11 appearances across the 2022 World Cup, Euro 2024 and Portugal’s first game here.
For context, Messi has scored nine times in World Cup matches since Ronaldo netted from the spot in Portugal’s opening group stage match against Ghana at Qatar 2022.
While chances were at a premium in this match, Ronaldo’s impact on it was minimal.
Cristiano Ronaldo was thwarted by DR Congo (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)
He mostly attempted to act as a conduit for his younger, quicker, more mobile team-mates, either by deliberately standing yards offside (which meant Portugal could play it wide behind DR Congo’s high line, allowing him to then be onside for the resulting cross) or trying to link play by occasionally coming deep.
He had a couple of attempts at goal from Francisco Conceicao pullbacks, neither of which troubled the goalkeeper, on what was a frustrating afternoon in Houston’s NRG Stadium.
Any criticism of Ronaldo back home in Portugal, where he is hero-worshipped like no other, has mostly centred around manager Roberto Martinez’s use of him. Ronaldo is pretty much guaranteed to play every minute of Portugal’s 2026 World Cup regardless of his impact, whereas for a player of his age, a substitute role may be more suitable.
He predictably lasted the full 90 here. Also predictably, he offered very little.
Tim Spiers
How big a shock was this result?
Historically, this result was not quite Saudi Arabia overcoming Argentina in 2022, or Senegal shocking defending champions France 20 years previously. Even during this tournament, Qatar’s draw with Switzerland on Saturday was a surprise, while Cape Verde somehow holding European champions Spain to a goalless stalemate two days later was one of the all-time World Cup shocks.
Yet that should not diminish DR Congo’s accomplishment.
Portugal’s talent pool, especially in midfield, is frankly outrageous, and Martinez’s side took a sixth-minute lead. DR Congo did not wilt, however, and actually had more shots and produced a higher expected goals (xG) figure, despite their meagre possession.
DR Congo celebrate against Portugal (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Defensively, led by their captain, the former Newcastle United defender Chancel Mbemba, they were immense and offered Portugal few clear-cut opportunities. There is an evident resilience and togetherness about them.
For a team sitting 43rd in FIFA’s rankings to deservedly draw with one of the pre-tournament favourites (seventh in those rankings) and secure their first ever point at the World Cup finals warrants commendation. The scenes among the players and the pockets of fans inside the ground at full time were wonderful to behold.
With Uzbekistan and Colombia, who meet in Mexico City later tonight, making up the rest of Group K, further positive results shouldn’t be discounted.
Chris Waugh
Daily Play
Why did Portugal look so toothless?
This is not the first time that one of the tournament favourites has looked unconvincing in their first World Cup game.
Running your eye over Portugal’s squad, you could make a genuine argument that Martinez has the strongest pound-for-pound group of talent in the competition — perhaps matched only by the French.
The ultimate challenge is assembling those individuals into a coherent, victorious team. Martinez might still achieve that, but there is little doubt that they will need to improve at the sharp end of the pitch.
Portugal utterly dominated possession here, circulating the ball with ease as they looked to break down DR Congo. The technical quality of Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva could arguably keep the ball for a full 90 minutes if they were asked to, but cutting edge is also essential in tournament football.
Yes, there is a Ronaldo-shaped elephant in the room when it comes to Portugal’s forward line, but he was not to blame for the bluntness they showed here. The lack of service to their all-time top goalscorer was more of a concern.
Credit must also go to DR Congo, but a single shot on target when you’ve had 75 per cent possession highlights just how blunt Portugal were. Knocking the ball around for long periods is all well and good, but Martinez is going to need more creativity if they are to live up to that title of World Cup 2026 contenders.
Mark Carey
How did Wissa make up for a year of misery?
For all of Portugal’s first-half dominance of the ball (80 per cent possession), they rarely threatened. DR Congo, on the other hand, were direct on the rare occasions they could attack — and it was Wissa who drove them forward, harrying defenders, pressing the goalkeeper, carrying possession with intent and trying to make things happen.
Having whipped a left-footed shot wide of the post early on, Wissa levelled on the stroke of half-time. Arthur Masuaku whipped a great cross into the area after Portugal failed to clear a corner, and the Newcastle man was inexplicably unmarked. Even so, he still timed his jump perfectly and directed a point-blank header into the net.
Yoane Wissa heads DR Congo level just before half-time (Lars Baron/Getty Images)
That equaliser represented not only a huge goal for his country but also for Wissa himself.
His £55million move to Newcastle from Brentford last summer has proven disastrous so far, with injuries plaguing him and only three goals all season. He did not start any of their final 22 matches.
But he looked hungrier and fitter today than he did in a Newcastle shirt right across 2025-26. There was also an irony that Wissa, who turned down the chance to play for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations at mid-season so he could focus on performing for his club, was the scorer of their opening goal at this World Cup.
Chris Waugh
How did Portugal remember Jota?
Diogo Jota won’t be far from the thoughts of Portugal’s players or fans throughout the 2026 World Cup.
Jota, who died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in July last year, would have been a central member of the Portugal squad this summer and it was his dream to play in and win this tournament, having missed out on Qatar 2022 due to injury.
The brothers’ parents, Joaquim and Isabel Silva, were VIP guests at this match and saw their late son honoured during the Portuguese national anthem, when a black-and-white image of him playing for Portugal was shown on the stadium’s big screen.