Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign began with a disappointing milestone as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo.
Portugal took the lead through Joao Neves, who headed home from a cross, but DR Congo responded before halftime when Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa equalized with a header. The African side, ranked 46th in the FIFA rankings and competing in its first World Cup since 1974, secured its first-ever World Cup point after losing all three matches during its previous appearance as Zaire more than five decades ago.
While the result was historic for DR Congo, it also exposed a concerning trend for Portugal’s captain. Ronaldo has now gone 10 consecutive matches at major international tournaments, the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship, without scoring, according to Opta. During that stretch, he has attempted 33 shots, with 11 on target, but has failed to find the net.
Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes against DR Congo, yet his influence was limited. The 41-year-old recorded just 25 touches, his fewest in a major tournament match for Portugal when completing the entire game. It was also the second-lowest number of touches he has ever had in a World Cup start.
Ronaldo finished with three shots, none of which were on target. He did not manage a shot until the 67th minute and failed to create a chance for a teammate. His best opening came from a Francisco Conceicao cutback, but the resulting effort was mishit and did not seriously threaten the goal.
The drought dates back to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo last scored in Portugal’s tournament opener against Ghana and failed to score again during that competition. He also went goalless at Euro 2024 despite playing almost every minute. Although he has continued to score regularly in qualifiers and the UEFA Nations League, those goals do not count toward Opta’s major-tournament statistic.
Ronaldo has scored eight goals in 24 World Cup appearances, while his arch nemesis Lionel Messi, who also debuted at the 2006 tournament, has scored 16 goals in 27 World Cup matches, following a hat-trick against Algeria in a 3-0 win.
Portugal will look to move on from the draw when they face Uzbekistan next on Tuesday.
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