Portugal and Ronaldo held to frustrating draw against Congo DR in opening match

In a high-stakes World Cup match held on June 17, 2026, Portugal faced Congo DR at NRG Stadium in Houston, resulting in a disappointing 1-1 draw. The head coach of the Portuguese team, Roberto Martinez, addressed concerns surrounding his squad’s performance and the ongoing goal-scoring drought of star player Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been unable to find the back of the net in major tournaments for ten consecutive matches.

Ronaldo’s struggles continued as he failed to score for the fifth straight World Cup match, which has raised alarm among fans and analysts alike. His last non-penalty goal in a major competition dates back to June 19, 2021. In contrast to Portugal’s high expectations, the team has netted only one goal in their last four major competition outings, leading many to question the strategic direction of the squad and the viability of its star player.

Despite Ronaldo’s lack of scoring in the match—where he produced three shot attempts with none on target—Martinez made the decision to play him for the entire duration of the game. “It makes no sense to get the best goal scorer in world football out in a game that you need goals,” Martinez explained when asked about the possibility of substituting the veteran player.

The match commenced on a promising note with an early goal from João Neves in the sixth minute, but Portugal’s offense stalled thereafter, managing only six additional shots for the remainder of the game. Martinez expressed that the team’s early achievement had inadvertently led to a reduction in their offensive aggression, allowing Congo DR to regain composure and mount a counteroffensive that culminated in their equalizing goal.

Congo DR, making a notable return to the World Cup stage after 52 years, has showcased its competitiveness against European teams, following an earlier draw with Spain. As Martinez grounded his analysis in the reality of the tournament, he emphasized that this was merely the first match. He recalled instances from previous World Cups, noting that teams like Argentina and Spain faced early setbacks before ultimately finding success.

Looking ahead, Portugal is set to face Uzbekistan on Tuesday in a crucial match that will determine their trajectory in the tournament. The stakes remain high for both Ronaldo, who is seeking to become the first player to score in six World Cups, and for a Portuguese squad eager to stabilize its performance as the tournament progresses.

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