The latest day of the FIFA World Cup 2026 delivered two very different stories for football's two biggest names. While Argentina captain Lionel Messi opened his campaign with a sparkling, headline-grabbing display, his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating afternoon. Ronaldo's Portugal had to settle for a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their Group K opener, leaving their dream of an opening win unfulfilled.
An Early Lead Inside Six Minutes
The match at the Houston stadium began very much on Portugal's terms. The team dominated possession from the opening whistle and made it count inside just six minutes. Pedro Neto delivered a superb cross, and João Neves rose to meet it with a fine header that found the back of the net. The goal handed Portugal a 1-0 advantage, and it looked as if they would comfortably take all three points.
Congo Hit Back to Make History 52 Years On
But rather than deflate the African side, the early setback seemed to galvanise them. DR Congo pressed forward relentlessly and found their equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Arthur Masuaku swung in a precise cross, and Yoane Wissa converted it with a powerful header. It was more than just a leveller. This was DR Congo's first ever goal in World Cup history, arriving a full 52 years after they made their tournament debut back in 1974.
Statistically, Portugal held far more of the ball than Congo, yet that control never translated into goals. Across the whole match, the Portuguese managed just a single shot on target. Congo's strong, well-organised defence simply refused to give Ronaldo and his teammates room to operate.
A Defensive Wall in the Second Half
Portugal's hopes of a winner flickered early in the second half when João Cancelo brilliantly steered an overhead kick into the goal. The joy was short-lived, however, as the strike was ruled out for offside. Portugal continued to apply pressure in search of a winning goal, but Congo's backline stood firm time and again, blocking every route to goal.
A Record Made, but Still No Goal
Although Ronaldo could not score, he did add another major record to his name. At 41 years and 132 days old, he became the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match. It was also the 23rd World Cup appearance of his career, an achievement that drew him level with Italy's legendary defender Paolo Maldini.
Despite the milestone, Ronaldo was unable to add to his tally of World Cup goals. The real celebrations, instead, belonged to the DR Congo camp. Their players walked off the pitch smiling, having recorded a memorable milestone of their own: the country's first ever World Cup goal and its first ever point.
