Ronaldo Quiet As Portugal Begin 2026 World Cup Campaign With Draw Against DR Congo

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating start to his sixth FIFA World Cup appearance as his side were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 tournament.

The spotlight was firmly on the 41-year-old forward before kick-off, with fans eager to see another historic World Cup moment from one of football’s greatest players. However, Ronaldo struggled to influence the game and managed only two off-target efforts during the 90 minutes in Houston.

Portugal took control early and opened the scoring through João Neves, who rose highest to head home a first-half effort and give the European side the advantage.

DR Congo responded strongly and restored parity before the break, with Yohan Wissa producing a similar headed finish to beat goalkeeper Diogo Costa and bring the Leopards back into the contest.

The second half saw both teams create attacking opportunities in an entertaining end-to-end battle, but neither side could find the decisive goal needed to secure all three points.

For Ronaldo, the match was another chapter in his remarkable international career, but it was not the memorable World Cup performance many supporters had hoped for. Portugal will now look ahead to their next fixture, while DR Congo will take confidence from earning a valuable point against one of the tournament’s biggest names.