Cristiano Ronaldo matches Lionel Messi World Cup record in Portugal draw with DR Congo
Cristiano Ronaldo equaled Lionel Messi’s record for World Cup appearances after featuring in his sixth edition of the tournament as Portugal were held 1-1 by DR Congo in their Group K opener in Houston on Thursday.
The match marked another milestone in Ronaldo’s long international career, placing him alongside Messi and Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa as the only players to appear in six World Cups.
Ronaldo’s latest appearance adds to his tournament history spanning 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026, matching Messi’s sequence of six consecutive World Cup participations.
Messi, however, had already made headlines earlier in the tournament after scoring a hat trick in Argentina’s Group J opener against Algeria, a performance that further extended his record-breaking run on the global stage.
In that match, Messi scored in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes in a dominant display that earned him man of the match honors and moved him to the top of the tournament scoring charts. He also surpassed Miroslav Klose’s long-standing World Cup goal record, reinforcing his status as one of the most prolific players in tournament history.
Back in Houston, Ronaldo’s Portugal side struggled to impose themselves early despite taking the lead inside six minutes through João Neves, who headed home after a defensive lapse from DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
DR Congo gradually grew into the contest, with Yoane Wissa and Chancel Mbemba leading efforts to push higher up the pitch and challenge Portugal’s defensive structure. Wissa went close in the 11th minute with a long-range effort that drifted just wide of the right post.
Portugal continued to press but were unable to extend their advantage, with DR Congo remaining disciplined and increasingly dangerous on the counterattack.
Their persistence paid off late in the first half. A well-delivered cross from Arthur Masuaku found Wissa inside the penalty area, and the forward guided a precise header past Diogo Costa to level the score at 1-1.
The equalizer shifted momentum just before the break, and the teams went into halftime level after a competitive opening 45 minutes.
Ronaldo, while heavily marked throughout the first half, found limited space against a compact DR Congo defense, as Portugal were forced to rely on wider build-up play and set-piece opportunities.
The result leaves Group K finely poised after the opening round of matches, with both teams still in contention as the tournament progresses.
