Cristiano Ronaldo came under intense criticism after Portugal opened the 2026 World Cup with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo. The match, played on June 18, 2026, was expected to be a winning start for Portugal, but Ronaldo delivered a poor performance and drew most of the blame for the result.
British pundit Chris Sutton said the problem was not only Ronaldo’s display but also coach Roberto Martinez’s decisions. “Martinez had to take Ronaldo off, but he was simply afraid of him,” Sutton wrote. “The truth is, Ronaldo is Portugal’s acting coach.” Thierry Henry also argued that Ronaldo should step back, saying the team needs goals from others and that it is time for him to “take a step back” because he can no longer influence games in the same way. Henry added that the contrast between Lionel Messi and Ronaldo is now clear in what each brings to their teams.
BBC analysts said Ronaldo’s veteran presence can help younger players, but can also create too much attention around him, and suggested the coach’s substitutions were crucial. One commentator said Portugal “were playing with 10 men” and had to remove the forward, adding that it was time for him to give others more freedom.
The criticism was backed by the numbers. Ronaldo finished with no shots on target, won no fouls, contributed nothing defensively, entered only two challenges and lost one, and touched the ball just 24 times. After the match, he posted on X: “This is not the start we wanted, but it is far from over. We keep our heads up and focus on the next game.”
