New Delhi: Portugal were expected to start their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing victory, but things did not go according to plan. Following a disappointing 1-1 draw in DR Congo, several a Cristiano RonaldoThe Portuguese player was caught on the receiving end of abuse on social media, with some fans claiming the former player was deliberately ignored during the match.The criticism intensified after Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, appeared to question Portugal’s style of play on social media. “Magically, they forgot how to pass: pass the ball; win it back; start counter-attacks. The game became a back-and-forth in midfield… A strange World Cup. Very strange.”Portugal, one of the pre-tournament favourites, struggled to topple bottom-ranked DR Congo in the FIFA standings. Ronaldo, who became the oldest player in the game to start FIFA World Cup A match aged 41, he endured a quiet night and managed just 25 catches despite playing the full 90 minutes.The result drew criticism from coach Roberto Martinez and several Portuguese players, with Ronaldo supporters accusing them of not being involved enough in attack.Midfielders Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and winger Pedro Neto were among those whose social media accounts were flooded with negative messages after the match. Neves, in particular, drew fire when he suggested Ronaldo should be seen as “another player” in the squad as Portugal chase World Cup glory.Portuguese reports also warned of a possible “civil war” in the dressing room if the abuse continued, rejecting suggestions that teammates had deliberately denied Ronaldo the ball.Ronaldo’s actions also came under scrutiny. After seeing the competitors like Lionel MessiKylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland scored in their World Cup opener, with the Portugal captain unable to find the net.Players including VinÃcius Júnior, Christian Pulisic, Viktor Gyökeres and Harry Kane also found the net earlier in the tournament, making Ronaldo stand out.The 41-year-old achieved the feat by joining Messi as the only player to feature in six FIFA World Cup appearances. But just a day after Messi scored a hat-trick, Ronaldo missed out on becoming the first player to score six World Cup goals, sending in tries in the 68th and 73rd minutes.Ronaldo did not speak to the media after the match but later sent a message on X.“It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this isn’t over,” he wrote. “Look at the next game.”Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended his captain when asked if he had considered replacing him.“It doesn’t make sense to get the best player in the world to come out when you need goals,” said MartÃnez. “Cristiano’s actions in the box are important. The way they copy defenders is important. “DR Congo midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau, who is 20 years Ronaldo’s junior, admitted his team had a strategy against the Portuguese.“We know that Ronaldo is not the same as before,” said Mukau. “So we know he runs a little bit, a little bit. So, yeah, it was up to our defense to stop him, and he did a good job.”Wednesday’s match was Ronaldo’s 229th international appearance, extending his record for most appearances by a male footballer. While he led Portugal to the European Championship in 2016, his last World Cup finish was the 2006 tournament, where Portugal reached the final.
