Portugal began the 2026 World Cup with a 1‑1 draw against Congo DR, a match that exposed lingering doubts about Cristiano Ronaldo. João Neves opened the scoring in a 6‑minute burst that saw Portugal dominate possession, 84 passes to 12. Yet Congo DR equalised late, turning the game into a battle of resilience rather than dominance for the national team.

Roberto Martinez trimmed key playmakers—Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha—yet left 41‑year‑old Cristiano Ronaldo on the field. The veteran finished the game with only three shot attempts, zero chances created and two progressive carries, the second‑fewest among Portugal starters. The data underline a pattern: Portugal scored once in 396 of 420 minutes across major tournaments in the last decade.

Portugal’s opening result marks the fourth time in five World Cups they failed to win a debut match, echoing an issue with Ronaldo’s output at major tournaments. With the group stage looming, Martinez must rethink attack strategies and devise a Plan B that leverages squad depth, or risk repeating a pattern that leaves fans and analysts about the team’s competitive edge.