Cristiano Ronaldo's Final Dance Begins with Disappointing Draw as Portugal Held by DR Congo

2026 World Cup Key News

Central News Agency (Houston, 17th – international wire services)

As football powerhouses made their tournament debuts, Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal was held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo today. The Democratic Republic of the Congo secured a historic point, while six-time World Cup veteran Ronaldo delivered a lackluster performance throughout the match.

The 41-year-old Ronaldo appeared visibly disappointed, leaving the pitch with a stern expression. He later posted on X: "This wasn’t the start we wanted, but the tournament is far from over. Let’s regroup and focus on the next match."

Ronaldo’s message drew sharp criticism from some fans, who responded with comments like: "Time to retire," "Leave before football abandons you," and "Now we all know who the greatest of all time really is."

Ronaldo’s career is often compared to that of Argentine star Lionel Messi. Today, he joined Messi in achieving the historic milestone of appearing in six World Cup tournaments—sharing the record. Both players are widely expected to be playing their "final dance" at the 2026 World Cup.

However, since 2006, Ronaldo has played 23 World Cup matches, scoring 8 goals and providing 2 assists, yet has never won the tournament. He remains far from the all-time top scorer list, while Messi yesterday moved ahead with a hat-trick, becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.

Even younger stars like France’s Kylian Mbappe scored twice against Senegal, placing him among the top contenders in the scoring charts. France is now considered one of the top favorites to win the tournament.

Ronaldo, however, had limited impact today. DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa headed in an equalizer unmarked, canceling out Portugal’s early goal by Joao Neves. This earned DR Congo their first point in a World Cup finals since their debut in 1974.

Ronaldo did have chances. He missed a clear opportunity after receiving a pass from teammate Francisco Conceicao. Minutes later, the same attacking combination created another chance, with Conceicao delivering another brilliant assist—but Ronaldo once again failed to hit the target.

Although this is still the group stage, failing to secure three points is undoubtedly a disappointing start for Ronaldo and Portugal. They will have a chance to redeem themselves when they face Uzbekistan on the 23rd. (Compiled by: Qu Xiangping) 1150618

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