Cristiano Ronaldo once again occupied center stage as Portugal opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, but the veteran forward endured a frustrating evening as Roberto Martinez’s side settled for a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their Group K opener on Thursday.
Although Ronaldo failed to find the net, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez firmly defended his captain after the match, arguing that the 41-year-old’s influence extended far beyond goals.
Portugal made the ideal start at Houston Stadium when João Neves headed home from Neto’s cross in the sixth minute, giving the European side an early advantage and appearing to put them on course for a comfortable victory.
However, DR Congo gradually settled into the contest and struck back in first-half stoppage time when Yoane Wissa met a cross with a powerful header that beat Diogo Costa, sending the teams into halftime level.
Portugal dominated possession for much of the match and repeatedly pushed forward in search of a winner, but a combination of disciplined defending by DR Congo and wasteful finishing prevented Martinez’s side from claiming all three points.
Ronaldo, making his sixth World Cup appearance and equaling Lionel Messi’s record for most men’s World Cup tournaments played, struggled to impose himself against a compact Congolese defense led by Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe and Steve Kapuadi.
Martinez acknowledged that Portugal found it difficult to break down an opponent that frequently defended with six players across the back line.
“We struggled because they had six defenders,” Martinez said, according to FIFA. “And in those situations, you can make use of his qualities.”
The Portugal coach rejected any suggestion that Ronaldo should have been substituted as his team chased a winning goal.
“It makes no sense to take a player like Cristiano off the pitch when you need a goal,” Martinez said.
Instead, Martinez explained that Ronaldo’s role extended beyond finishing chances. The veteran striker was instructed to occupy defenders and create space for teammates making attacking runs from deeper positions.
“The straight line is not the fastest way,” Martinez said. “The way he attracts defenders and uses space is extremely valuable.”
“When you need a goal, you need a player like Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch.”
Despite Martinez’s confidence, Ronaldo was unable to make a decisive impact statistically.
According to FotMob, the Portugal captain played the full 90 minutes as the lone striker but managed only three shots, none of which tested goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
He also failed to create a scoring opportunity for a teammate and registered only five touches inside DR Congo’s penalty area.
Overall, Ronaldo was involved relatively little in Portugal’s attacking play, recording just 25 touches throughout the match as DR Congo’s defensive organization successfully limited his influence.
The statistical output reflected a rare quiet performance from one of international football’s most prolific scorers. FotMob awarded Ronaldo a rating of 6.7, placing him among Portugal’s lowest-rated starters on the night.
While Ronaldo’s individual display fell below his usual standards, Martinez remained focused on the collective performance, emphasizing that Portugal must become more clinical in front of goal before their next Group K fixture.
Portugal now face increasing pressure in the race for qualification after dropping points in their opening match, while DR Congo will take confidence from earning a valuable draw against one of the tournament favorites.
