The numbers are starting to look like a bad omen for Portugal’s captain. Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t scored in a major international tournament — the World Cup or European Championship — for 10 consecutive matches now, according to Opta. That’s not just a dry spell; it’s the longest scoring drought of his storied career on the biggest stages.
The latest chapter came Monday in Portugal’s World Cup opener, a 1-1 draw against DR Congo. Portugal went ahead early on a header from Joao Neves, but the African side — ranked 46th in the world and playing in its first World Cup since 1974 — struck back before halftime when Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa nodded home the equalizer. For DR Congo, that single point was historic: their first ever at a World Cup, after losing all three matches when they qualified as Zaire more than five decades ago.
But for Ronaldo, the match was another frustrating 90 minutes. The 41-year-old finished with just 25 touches, the fewest he’s ever had in a complete major tournament game for Portugal. It was also the second-lowest touch count he’s registered in any World Cup start, period. He managed three shots, none on target, and didn’t get his first attempt off until the 67th minute. No chances created for teammates, either. His best look came off a cutback from Francisco Conceicao, but the resulting effort was rushed and lacked conviction.
This drought traces back to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo scored against Ghana in Portugal’s group opener there and then went silent — zero goals in his final three World Cup matches. He followed that up with a goalless Euro 2024 campaign, playing virtually every minute without finding the net. The pattern has become hard to ignore.
Yes, he’s still scoring in qualifiers and the UEFA Nations League. But those don’t count toward the major tournament stat. And the contrast with his longtime rival Lionel Messi remains stark. Messi, who debuted at the same 2006 World Cup, has 16 goals in 27 World Cup appearances — including a hat trick against Algeria in this year’s group stage. Ronaldo has eight goals in 24 World Cup matches.
Portugal will try to reset Tuesday against Uzbekistan, but the question hovering over the team is growing louder: Can a 41-year-old captain still carry the scoring weight on the biggest stage, or has that window officially closed?
Fans online noted Ronaldo’s body language looked flat throughout the match, and his lack of involvement in buildup play has become a recurring concern. The team has not confirmed any injury or tactical shift, but the attacking flow clearly suffers when the ball doesn’t stick up front.
Portugal’s depth is real, but their identity still runs through No. 7. That’s the dilemma. And the drought isn’t getting any shorter.
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