Cristiano Ronaldo had hoped to start the 2026 World Cup with a statement performance, but instead came under heavy criticism after Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday in the opening round of Group 11. The 41-year-old forward missed two good chances and was largely absent from the attack, making his display the main talking point after the match.
Former England striker Chris Sutton was especially blunt. “It is embarrassing for Roberto Martinez,” he said. “Everyone can see the same game, but the coach is afraid to take Ronaldo off. The game has already passed him by. He is still a great player, but he is no longer the star he was, and the team is paying for it.”
Former France defender Gael Clichy also argued that Ronaldo can sometimes disrupt Portugal’s rhythm, saying the team kept looking for him in the box and might have created more through the middle without him. Wayne Rooney defended the Portuguese captain, insisting, “Ronaldo has always been a player who lives off chances. If you give him opportunities, he will score.” Ronaldo finished with no goals, no shots on target, no successful dribbles, no key pass, no drawn foul and no accurate cross.
Martinez said Portugal started well but lost control after taking the lead. “After we scored, we stopped getting into the box and started settling for possession. Congo reorganized and equalized from a set piece,” he said. He added that he did not like the performance but did like the players’ attitude, stressing that “there are no easy games in the World Cup” and that the team must improve. Asked about using another striker alongside Ronaldo, Martinez said his choices were “purely professional” and mentioned Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes as among the world’s best. Raphael Leao also said Portugal lost momentum after a strong opening 20 minutes, and Martinez denied that Ronaldo’s quick exit to the dressing room after the match was a protest, calling it a normal early-tournament confusion.
