Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, with captain Cristiano Ronaldo struggling to make a significant impact.
The match, played in Houston, marked Ronaldo’s sixth appearance at a World Cup, but the veteran forward was largely quiet throughout the encounter.
The 41-year-old managed only a couple of off-target attempts during the full 90 minutes, failing to trouble the DR Congo defence in a meaningful way.
Portugal started strongly and went ahead in the first half when João Neves rose above the defence to head home and give his side the lead.
However, DR Congo responded before the break, with Yoane Wissa also scoring with a header to bring the game level.
After halftime, both sides pushed for a winner in an open and competitive second half, but neither team could find a decisive goal.
The result means both Portugal and DR Congo share the points as they begin their World Cup campaign.