The FIFA World Cup 2026 began with a roar for Cristiano Ronaldo. The moment the Portugal star stepped onto the pitch, the entire stadium echoed with his name. Yet the first match of his sixth World Cup turned out to be nothing like what his supporters had hoped for. Against Congo, Ronaldo could not summon the pace or the cutting edge that have defined him for years, and Portugal were left to share the points in a 1-1 draw.
On the Field, But Out of the Game
For long stretches, the 41-year-old looked almost like a spectator on the pitch, no different from those in the stands who had come not to watch a football match but to gaze at a legend. The Portugal captain was even handed a fine chance to score, but he failed to take it. That sparked questions about the coach as well: if Ronaldo was so clearly off the boil, why was he kept on the field for the entire match?
Level With Messi on the Record, Worlds Apart in Form
Ronaldo may not have found the net for his side against Congo, but he did draw level with a record held by Argentina great Lionel Messi. Both men are currently playing the sixth World Cup of their careers. The difference was stark, though. In the opening match of his own sixth World Cup, Messi took over completely. Rolling back the years, he scored his first World Cup hat-trick and single-handedly carried Argentina to victory, while Ronaldo looked like little more than a faint shadow of his former self.
An Emotional Tribute to Diego Jota
One of the most moving moments of the Portugal versus Congo clash came away from the play itself. Before the contest, Diego Jota was honoured with a tribute. As Portugal's national anthem ended, a photograph of Diego Jota appeared on the big screen. Television cameras then turned to his parents in the stands, who are still grieving the loss of both Diego and his brother André Silva in a car accident last July.
