Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the 2026 World Cup Group K football match against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Houston Stadium in Houston on Wednesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo may have already lost some ground in the "Greatest of All Time" debate early in the 2026 Fifa World Cup. The Portuguese captain failed to find the net during his side's 1-1 draw against DR Congo at Houston Stadium on Wednesday night.
Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes, but was unable to regain the lead for Portugal after Yoane Wissa equalised for Congo on the stroke of half-time, canceling out an early opener from Joao Neves.
The 41-year-old talisman will likely be frustrated by both the result and his personal performance. His relative ineffectiveness has shifted the spotlight toward his long-time rival, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
Both superstars opened their respective campaigns in commanding fashion: Messi netted a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria, while Mbappé scored a brace in France’s 3-0 win against Senegal.
