Portugal’s World Cup Opener Ends in Frustration. Ronaldo Has a Simple Message.

The 2026 World Cup didn’t start how Portugal drew it up. Not even close.

Portugal stumbled to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their group stage opener, and the result felt worse than the scoreline. Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, had one of those nights where nothing clicked. He couldn’t find space. He couldn’t get the ball in dangerous areas. And when he did get a look, the finish wasn’t there.

Some fans and analysts are already questioning whether Ronaldo should start Portugal’s next match. But the man himself isn’t panicking.

“Nothing was lacking,” Ronaldo said after the game, per ESPN’s Adriana Garcia. “That’s football. Portugal could have won, but they could also have lost.”

He’s not wrong, exactly. Portugal dominated possession at 75.4 percent. But that control didn’t translate into real danger. They managed only seven total shots and just one on target. Their expected goals total was 0.65. Congo, meanwhile, generated eight shots with two on target and a higher expected goals figure of 0.85. They probably deserved at least a draw.

Ronaldo took to social media later to address the disappointment directly.

“It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over,” he wrote on Instagram. “Heads up and focus on the next game.”

The stats from this one are hard to ignore. Ronaldo has now gone ten straight major international matches without a goal. He recorded just 25 touches in the game, the second-fewest he’s ever had in a World Cup start. He took three shots. None were on target.

His Al Nassr and Portugal teammate Joao Felix isn’t worried, though.

“The first game is always the first game,” Felix said. “Even if it’s against a weaker team, they are playing for their country. If it’s a dream for us, it’s a dream for them too. They always give a little extra. We will definitely improve. It’s about seeing what we didn’t do well and correcting it in the next game, so we can win.”

Portugal’s next chance comes on June 23 against Uzbekistan. That match will tell us a lot about whether this team can shake off a flat start or if the warning signs are real.