Playing at NRG on 17/6, Ronaldo set a record as the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, at 41 years and 132 days old. This also marked the Portuguese superstar's sixth World Cup appearance, matching the record recently set by Lionel Messi.

However, Ronaldo endured a difficult match against Congo's five-man defensive system. The forward played the full 90 minutes, but touched the ball only 25 times, completed no dribbles, had three shots off target, and lost possession three times. Sofascore rated him 6,1 points, the lowest among Portugal's starting players.

Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Axel Tuanzebe react during Portugal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their World Cup 2026 Group K opening match in Houston, Texas, USA on 17/6/2026. Photo: AP

After the match, Martinez defended the 41-year-old forward. "In our system, the central striker must maintain high tactical discipline, moving behind the center-backs to create space", he analyzed. "After taking a 1-0 lead, we couldn't get the ball into the final third of the pitch with the necessary frequency to capitalize on those movements".

Despite Portugal's struggles, Martinez only brought on striker Goncalo Ramos in the 83rd minute. Martinez denied that the change was too late, arguing that both Ronaldo and Ramos fulfilled their tactical duties well, but Portugal lacked situations where the ball reached favorable positions for the forwards.

In this match, Portugal controlled possession for 75% of the time, but only managed three shots on target, compared to Congo's two. Joao Neves, a player who was not even born when Ronaldo played in Euro 2004, scored Portugal's opening goal with a header. Yoane Wissa, a Brentford striker, then scored the equalizer.

Martinez affirmed that the main reason for the unconvincing performance was not technical but psychological. "The players performed at a high level when they won the Nations League, and they did today as well. But after scoring, emotions negatively impacted the team's performance. We lacked presence in the final third, and that was more an emotional issue than a technical one", he said.

Ronaldo celebrates with teammates after Neves scored the opening goal. Photo: Reuters

Joao Neves shared Martinez's view. The player who scored Portugal's only goal, and was named man of the match, believed the team's overall performance was more positive than the draw suggested.

"The most important thing is how we played. That's what makes a difference in the long run", the PSG midfielder stated. "I am confident in what the team showed. We will continue to improve and build on what we did well. Perhaps we eased off a bit after the opening goal. In the second half, the team created more chances and needs to convert them better in upcoming matches".

Neves also spoke out in defense of Ronaldo against criticism. The 21-year-old midfielder emphasized that the Portuguese captain still plays an important role within the squad and is no different from any teammate in the collective effort toward shared success. "We all know what Cristiano has done for the national team and for football. For me, he is a member who is always ready to help the team", Neves said.

Similarly, Ramos defended Ronaldo, attributing Portugal's dropped points to the team's collective complacency. According to the 25-year-old forward, the team started well and scored an early goal, but then failed to maintain the necessary pressure to find more goals. "We relaxed too soon and didn't look for a second or third goal as we should have. In a tournament like the World Cup, a one-goal lead is never a safe margin", Ramos said.

The PSG striker revealed that Martinez instructed him to play behind Ronaldo when he came on, providing defensive support from midfield and linking play. Ramos felt that the match became too open in the final stages, which did not reflect Portugal's desired style. Despite his disappointment with the draw, he remains optimistic about the road ahead and believes the team will perform better in their next match against Uzbekistan on 23/6.

Hong Duy (according to Abola, Ojogo)