Portugal stumbled to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo on Wednesday, and the most glaring issue wasn’t the equalizer they conceded or the late-game scramble for a winner. It was the man wearing the captain’s armband.
Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41 and playing in his sixth World Cup, finished the match with just 25 touches — fewer than every Portuguese starter except Bernardo Silva, who was subbed off at halftime. None of those touches were memorable. Two second-half shots sailed wide. The first shot didn’t even come until the hydration break, which felt like a fitting metaphor for a team that never truly showed up.
Portugal took an early lead when Joao Neves — of all people — powered home a header from a set piece. But instead of building on that advantage, Roberto Martinez’s side went into cruise control. DR Congo, a team that only qualified through inter-confederation playoffs, never got the memo that they were supposed to be overmatched. They pushed forward, created chances, and finally broke through when Yoane Wissa nodded home a corner just before halftime.
The second half was more of the same. Portugal lacked urgency. Their passing was sloppy. Their shape was disjointed. And their most famous player spent most of the game standing offside, looking frustrated, and occupying defenders in ways that the BBC’s halftime punditry team insisted were actually signs of elite intelligence.
According to fans online, that analysis felt less like insight and more like an obligation. The pundits pointed to Ronaldo’s ability to draw defenders — even as Portugal failed to exploit the space he supposedly created. There was discussion about whether his shirt number was visible, as though that mattered. The stretch to find positives was Olympic-level.
The uncomfortable truth is this: Ronaldo is no longer the player who carried Portugal to glory. At his peak, he was a one-man offense. Now, he’s a 41-year-old forward who can’t press, can’t beat defenders one-on-one, and offers almost nothing in possession. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes—who has been the creative engine for Manchester United and thrives when trusted as the main man—played a full 90 minutes without ever truly taking over the game. That’s not on Bruno. That’s on a system designed around a fading icon.
Portugal has arguably the deepest roster in the tournament. They have talent at every position: Vitinha’s craft in midfield, Joao Felix’s flair, Goncalo Ramos’s directness, Bernardo Silva’s control. But none of it matters if the focal point of the attack is a player who can no longer carry the weight. The 1-1 result isn’t a disaster—two of the last three World Cups were won by teams that drew their opening match—but the performance raises a question that’s becoming harder to ignore: Is it time to make this Bruno’s team?
Martinez has not publicly indicated any lineup changes. But if Portugal continues to sleepwalk through group play, the pressure to bench the legend will only grow. The world has moved on. The question is whether Portugal can, too.
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