The opening match of Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw against DR Congo in Houston on Wednesday, 16 June. While global football icons like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi exploded onto the tournament stage with prolific goalscoring performances, veteran forward Cristiano Ronaldo endured a quiet night, failing to make a significant impact for his nation.

A night of frustration for Portugal’s captain

At 41 years old, Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes, aiming to become the first man to score in six different World Cups. Despite Portugal dominating possession with 75%, they managed only seven attempts at goal, with just one on target – Joao Neves’ sixth-minute header from a Pedro Neto cross. DR Congo equalised just before half-time through Yoane Wissa, leaving Portugal to rue a lack of cutting edge.

Ronaldo, who plays his club football for Al-Nassr and is closing in on 1,000 career goals, had two notable chances midway through the second half, both created by half-time substitute Francisco Conceicao. However, neither opportunity resulted in a goal, extending Ronaldo’s barren run to 10 consecutive games at major tournaments without scoring. His 25 touches were the fewest of any Portugal outfield player who completed the full match, highlighting his struggle to get involved in the play.

Pundits question Ronaldo’s role and Martinez’s choices

The subdued performance sparked immediate debate among pundits regarding Ronaldo’s continued central role in the national team. Chris Sutton, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, was scathing in his assessment of manager Roberto Martinez’s decision to keep Ronaldo on the pitch.

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“That’s embarrassing from Martinez. 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,” Sutton stated.

Thierry Henry, speaking on Fox Sports, pointed to Ronaldo’s positioning as a potential issue, suggesting a focus on personal scoring over team benefit. “If he goes into the six-yard box, the defender would have had to follow him and it would have been a tap-in for Fernandes. Because he wants to score, he goes into the path of the pass. That’s my thing – the team needs to score, not you,” Henry observed.

Meanwhile, other superstars have hit the ground running:

• Kylian Mbappe scored two goals against Senegal, becoming France’s all-time leading scorer.

• Erling Haaland netted a brace in his World Cup debut for Norway against Iraq.

• Lionel Messi recorded a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria, drawing level with Miroslav Klose as the joint-leading goalscorer in World Cup finals history.

As Portugal look ahead to their next group stage fixture, Martinez faces increasing pressure to integrate his veteran captain effectively or consider alternative strategies, especially with attacking options like Goncalo Ramos, who replaced Vitinha in the 83rd minute, available from the bench.

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Sources: www.bbc.com

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