Portugal Draw Sparks Criticism of Ronaldo and Martinez

Portugal’s surprising 1-1 draw with the Republic of the Congo in the opening week of the 2026 World Cup drew sharp criticism the following day, especially from local and international media. The result gave the Africans their first goal and first point in the tournament, while Cristiano Ronaldo came under fire for being largely invisible in the match and for staying on the field throughout.

Former England striker Chris Sutton called the situation “embarrassing” for Portugal coach Roberto Martinez. “Everyone can see it during the game, but the coach is afraid to take Ronaldo off,” Sutton said. “The game has already moved past him. He is still a great player, but he is not the star he once was, and the team is paying for it.” He added that Portugal may have been better served without Ronaldo, because the attack kept looking for him in the box instead of building through the middle.

The numbers backed up the criticism. Ronaldo did not register a shot on target, a key pass, or a successful dribble, in what was described as an especially poor performance. Reports said that when he was on the pitch, Portugal repeatedly shifted play to the wings to find him.

Martinez, however, defended his players despite the disappointment. He said Portugal started well, but after taking the lead they stopped attacking the box and settled for possession. “Congo reorganized and equalized from a set piece. I did not like the performance, but I liked the attitude of the players. There are no easy games at the World Cup and we have to improve,” he said.