Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming only the second player after Lionel Messi to appear at six World Cups, but his special milestone ended with a forgettable performance. Portugal were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their Group K opener at World Cup 2026.
Roberto Martinez’s side made a dream start when Joao Neves headed home in the sixth minute. The early goal seemed to put Portugal in control, especially with a star-studded attacking line-up featuring Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto.
However, DR Congo showed they had not come to the World Cup simply to defend. The African side played with discipline, patience and belief, waiting for their chance before stunning Portugal deep into first-half stoppage time. Yoane Wissa rose well to head in the equaliser, scoring a historic World Cup goal for Congo.
Portugal pushed forward after the break and increased the pressure, but their attacking play lacked sharpness. Ronaldo was isolated for much of the match and failed to make the kind of impact many had expected. The 41-year-old had three attempts on goal, but none of them hit the target.
Joao Cancelo did put the ball in the net for Portugal, but the goal was ruled out for offside. At the other end, DR Congo almost completed a bigger shock when Cedric Bakambu struck the post in the second half.
The 1-1 draw leaves Portugal with a disappointing start to their World Cup campaign. For Ronaldo, it was a historic night on paper, but his quiet display has raised fresh questions about his role in the current team.
Portugal still have enough quality to recover, but this result was a clear warning. If they want to be serious contenders at World Cup 2026, they will need far more energy, creativity and cutting edge in the matches ahead.
