Portugal’s 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the opening round of the 2026 World Cup has revived scrutiny over Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in the national team. The 41-year-old forward missed several chances, left the pitch in Houston visibly frustrated, and sparked fresh questions in Portugal over whether he should still be Roberto Martinez’s starting striker.
The backlash did not stop with Ronaldo. João Neves, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, drew heavy criticism online after comments he made after the match. Neves said, “We know what Cristiano has done for us, but right now he is no different from us. He is just another player coming to help. He is no different from the others.” Some fans interpreted that as a slight against Ronaldo, although the captain did not appear offended. He was, in fact, among the most disappointed players after Portugal failed to begin the tournament with three points.
The reaction also reflected broader criticism of Martinez’s choices. João Félix, Rafael Leão and Gonçalo Ramos did not start, Félix did not play at all, and the coach did not use all five substitutions available to him. Supporters questioned why Ronaldo was not taken off despite his poor performance.
Martinez rejected the criticism afterward, saying, “There is no logic in taking off the top scorer in the world in a game where you need goals.” Still, Portugal’s lack of attacking sharpness in Houston has worried people around the team, especially given the attacking talent available to the coach.
