Portugal drew 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in their opening match at the 2026 World Cup. The disappointing result made headlines not only in the domestic press but also internationally, with outlets taking aim at Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance on the pitch.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain was hit by a barrage of criticism after a display that fell short of expectations at what is his sixth and, possibly, last World Cup.
The newspaper The Independent described Ronaldo as “a statue” and said that Portugal had sacrificed “yet another World Cup to Cristiano Ronaldo’s ego”.
The Telegraph, meanwhile, compared the No. 7’s performance with Lionel Messi’s, rekindling an old debate.
“The day after Lionel Messi showed why he remains in the Argentina squad, Portugal were perhaps given a reminder of why Cristiano Ronaldo should not be in theirs,” the British daily wrote.
