For more than twenty years, Cristiano Ronaldo he has built a career in proving people wrong.Whenever the critics asked him, he answered with motives. Whenever there is doubt about his longevity, he makes another record. From Manchester to Madrid, Turin to Riyadh, and on an amazing international tour with Portugal, Ronaldo has repeatedly written expectations.But after Portugal’s disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the decades-old rivalry has returned in full force.At the age of 41, Ronaldo is still the captain, leader and most influential figure in Portugal. The question now is whether he is still Portugal’s most effective tool in the game.The contrast with other football images in the opening game was striking. Within a day Lionel MessiKylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland both scored a couple of goals to help their countries to victory, while Ronaldo finished the entire 90 minutes against DR Congo without an action.Portugal started very well. João Neves headed home the opening goal early on after an opener in which Roberto MartÃnez’s side dominated everything. Portugal’s dominance in the opening period was immense. In the six-minute sequence leading up to Neves’ goal, MartÃnez’s team managed 84 passes compared to just 12 for DR Congo. However, what looked like the beginning of a comfortable victory slowly turned into a very difficult afternoon.DR Congo settled into the match, grew in confidence and eventually got an equalizer through Yoane Wissa just before half-time.
Portugal vs DR Congo match statistics
By the final whistle, the numbers painted a grim picture of one of the tournament’s favourites. Despite enjoying plenty of possession, Portugal finished second in several attacking measures. DR Congo finished with eight shots to Portugal’s seven, attempted twice more than Portugal and produced 0.82 expected goals against Portugal’s 0.64. For a team that was expected to be the top contender in the tournament, the numbers raised some uncomfortable questions.Ronaldo’s individual numbers reflected this struggle.Making his sixth World Cup appearance, the veteran striker finished with just 25 touches, the second fewest ever recorded in a World Cup start. He had just three attempts, no chances, two turnovers and two turnovers, two aerial passes, no ground balls and just one turnover. He also provided every protective measure. This was one of the most underrated World Cup performances of his career.
Ronaldo’s World Cup legacy
Perhaps most worrying was the way Portugal’s attack progressed around him.Ronaldo has repeatedly left the central areas in search of involvement. Sometimes he travels a lot in search of a place because he could no longer find good tackles against young defenders. The result was that Portugal often missed the target inside the penalty area when the crosses arrived.His first attempt on goal didn’t come until the 68th minute. None of his shots bothered the Congolese defence. Even two of Ronaldo’s three attempts proved a serious problem. Instead of threatening in the middle of the penalty area, he is often pushed to many areas in search of space.Former Arsenal and France star Thierry Henry he was one of those who analyzed Portugal’s problems and pointed to another era involving João Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo.Speaking after the game, Henry emphasized that the success of the team must come before his ambitions.“One important thing, people, please take home: the team has to score, not for you to win,” he said.Henry then interrupted the series in which he felt that Ronaldo’s change was working against Portugal and not for them.“So, obviously, we will see here that Portugal is sitting on the ball, Cancelo will receive the ball. Cristiano Ronaldo has been in this situation several times. If you run here, you – you make the defender take the decision to drop the six-yard box.”According to Henry, a run towards goal would have drawn defenders deep and allowed Bruno Fernandes to finish.“But because he wants to score, he goes in the way of Bruno Fernandes. When he went into the six-yard box, you were there, I’ll see – if you had to follow him, follow him, then he would have been a cross for Bruno Fernandes. But because he wants to score, he goes to the back lane. You see both players, and it’s easier for you to defend.”The concern was not that Ronaldo failed to score. It was in this way that he contributed a little to the invasion of Portugal. Many times, threats appeared to get him regardless of whether there was a better way. When he gets deep, he is often in positions that would have been used by Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva or João Neves. Although his movement sometimes creates space for his teammates, the Portuguese does not look like water in the final third.The issue is exacerbated by the fact that Ronaldo is no longer paying for those mistakes with goals in football’s biggest competitions.
A drought that will never end
Since his penalty against Ghana at the 2022 World Cup, he has now gone ten consecutive World Cup and European Championship matches without finding the net. The drought has now exceeded 800 minutes, and it has been five years since his last goal in an open game in any competition.Its contrast with its overall history remains striking. Ronaldo scored in the semi-final and final as Portugal lifted the UEFA Nations League last summer and continues to score regularly in club football and qualifying matches. Yet at the highest international level, goals have been hard to come by.There is no doubting what Ronaldo has done for Portugal. His strength helped deliver major international trophies and memorable moments in two decades.Yet the reality of 2026 is becoming hard to ignore.
Portugal and vs without Ronaldo
The statistics surrounding the Portuguese invasion show the same. In the last four matches of the Portuguese giants, Ronaldo has played 396 minutes out of 420 minutes, yet the team has scored only once. Over the last two seasons in all competitions, Portugal have scored 1.9 goals per game while Ronaldo has started compared to 2.8 goals per game when he is not. Although one number doesn’t tell the whole story, it does spark debate as to whether Portugal’s attack would be as effective without its captain.
When Ronaldo scores, Portugal never fails
Ronaldo fans, however, can point to another impressive statistic. Since their first appearance at the World Cup in 2006, Portugal have a record of five wins, one draw and an unbeaten run in major tournaments with Ronaldo’s feat. When they fail to find the back of the net, the record drops to five wins, five draws and seven defeats. Few players in the history of world football have been directly linked to the success of their team.However, leaving him is easier to negotiate than killing him.Roberto MartÃnez is facing a permanent problem. Gonçalo Ramos is still an obvious option but he is very dependent on work. A false ninth plan involving Bruno Fernandes or João Félix may provide more water but may bring new intellectual questions.There is also an emotional component. Few managers commit to being one of the greatest footballers in history, especially a player who still commands respect in the dressing room.Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in between.Ronaldo’s experience, his leadership and his final thoughts remain invaluable. However, asking him to carry Portugal’s attack for 90 minutes against top opposition seems unlikely. A well-controlled position, which can be a substitute against tired defenders, can allow Portugal to capitalize on its strengths and minimize its weaknesses.
From Germany 2006 to USA 2026
Portugal’s concern is that there seems to be no real plan B. MartÃnez has been supporting Ronaldo even as questions about his role are growing. In Euro 2024, the Portuguese coach replaced him in one of his five matches. Against DR Congo, productive players including Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha were all withdrawn, yet Ronaldo remained. Even when Gonçalo Ramos was introduced in the final, he was a midfielder who created a path and not a leader.The upcoming game against Uzbekistan could now define Portugal’s tournament and Ronaldo’s role within it.A strong performance and a goal can stop the conflict for a while, as Ronaldo has done in the past. Another ineffective display will only increase the spotlight on MartÃnez’s decisions and Portugal’s reliance on a player who remains popular but no longer seems impossible.For years, the question surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo was whether Portugal could win because of him.In 2026, the most uncomfortable question will be whether Portugal can’t afford to change more than him.
