Portugal and Ronaldo held by DR Congo in World Cup opener 2026

Portugal managed only a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in the World Cup opener, with Cristiano Ronaldo failing to score despite two second-half chances.

Superstar performances light up tournament Three of football’s most prominent players stole the spotlight on the first full day of the 2026 World Cup action. Kylian Mbappe struck twice for France against Senegal, overtaking the national scoring record. Norway’s Erling Haaland announced his World Cup debut in style with two goals in a win over Iraq. Lionel Messi went even further, scoring a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria to share the record for most World Cup finals goals with Miroslav Klose. ## Ronaldo struggles to leave mark The next day, Cristiano Ronaldo had his chance to join the scoring frenzy when Portugal faced DR Congo. At 41 years old, he aimed to become the first player to find the net in six different World Cups. However, despite playing the full 90 minutes, the Portugal captain could not influence the game as hoped. His side managed just a 1-1 draw in Houston, with Ronaldo failing to add to his World Cup tally. ## Manager’s decision under scrutiny During the broadcast, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton criticized Portugal’s manager for keeping Ronaldo on the pitch for the entire match. With the veteran struggling visibly, Sutton remarked: 'That's embarrassing from the manager. It might work but are we all watching a different game? He's scared to take him off. He's not the manager. [Ronaldo] may end up scoring the winner but the game has passed him by today.' ## Rooney reflects on Ronaldo’s mindset Before the match, Wayne Rooney joked that his former teammate at Manchester United would be furious—though in a positive way—that the other stars had already delivered on the opening day. Rooney added: 'That's how he's pushed himself and his mentality is that everything is a challenge for him. Over the years, him and Messi have pushed each other to get to these levels. He wants to be the best and that's not in a bad way. He'll want to go out there and score two or three tonight to show he's still at that level.' ## Portugal’s early lead canceled out Portugal started brightly, taking the lead in the sixth minute when Pedro Neto’s left-wing cross was headed in by Joao Neves of Paris St-Germain. However, DR Congo equalized just before halftime through Yoane Wissa of Newcastle, who nodded in a deserved goal. Despite dominating possession with 75%, Portugal managed only seven attempts at goal, with just one on target—their opener. ## Ronaldo’s missed opportunities Midway through the second half, substitute Francisco Conceicao twice put Ronaldo in scoring positions from the right flank. The first chance arrived with the ball slightly behind the veteran, who could only send a weak effort wide. A better opportunity followed, but Ronaldo was pressured by the DR Congo defense and fired wide. His 25 touches were the fewest among Portugal’s outfield players who played the full match. ## Experts question Ronaldo’s influence At full-time, Rooney noted: 'His stats will never be the best. What he needs is chances. If he gets good chances, he'll score goals.' Former France internationals Gael Clichy and Olivier Giroud both felt Conceicao should have shot himself instead of setting up Ronaldo. Clichy added: 'We said at the beginning of the game that Ronaldo will be helping young players because of his character and experience, but sometimes unconsciously those kinds of players can kind of take too much light.' ## Clichy discusses Ronaldo’s presence Clichy explained that Ronaldo’s superstar status might unintentionally overshadow teammates, saying: 'In the first chance, maybe if it was not Ronaldo, [Conceicao] would have had a go at goal. I've lived it with some players at Arsenal and Manchester City, where you feel that the player is such an important player, unconsciously he's taking everything from every player.' He stressed that this is normal and depends on the manager’s choices. ## DR Congo earns historic point The match ended 1-1, marking DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup point. Despite Portugal’s dominance in possession and attempts, they could not break down their opponents. The draw left Ronaldo’s milestone ambitions unfulfilled, at least for the time being. ## World Cup 2026 coverage details Viewers can catch all the action through the broadcaster’s World Cup coverage. A new predictor game has also been launched for fans to simulate outcomes. For full broadcast and viewing guides, follow the official World Cup 2026 schedule.