Cristiano Ronaldo fails in the first match of the 2026 World Cup: Portugal draws 1-1 with DR Congo

 Portugal started its participation in the 2026 World Cup with an unexpected 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The most criticized player of the evening was Cristiano Ronaldo. Unlike his eternal rival, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo could not count on praise for his performance, which may be his last at the World Cup. The statistics were not kind to him - he had only 25 touches with the ball and three missed shots. It was his second worst performance in the opening World Cup match for Portugal. Moreover, Ronaldo extended his infamous streak of not scoring a goal in ten consecutive matches at the European and World Championships. In Euro 2024, he did not score in five matches for Portugal, and two years earlier in Qatar he scored the only goal from a penalty kick in the opening match against Ghana. After this match, he remained goalless until the quarterfinals. Messi's achievements at the end of the 2022 tournament are also known. Could this development reignite the debate over who truly is the greatest footballer of all time? --- ## Related Articles 1. [4 Takeaways From Ghana's Dramatic Win Over Panama At World Cup](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/4-takeaways-from-ghanas-dramatic-win-over-panama-at-world-cup) 2. [World Cup 2026](https://quinasgoal.com/noticias/resumo-da-copa-do-mundo-harry-kane-junta-se-aos-estrelas-dos-golos-cristiano-ronaldo-tem-dificuldades)