Under the headline "Cristiano does not deserve this", author Aritz Gabilondo stated that the 41-year-old forward once again witnessed a Portuguese national team performing below expectations on a major stage. Responsibility for this result extends beyond Ronaldo to many other players.

Gabilondo, born in 1980 in San Sebastian, serves as AS's head of international football. He noted that the Houston stadium was awash in red, with thousands of Portuguese fans eager to witness Ronaldo's sixth World Cup appearance. However, they were met with an unconvincing display from the highly-rated team.

"Good players, good intentions, a great reputation, but very little to show", Gabilondo wrote.

Cristiano Ronaldo gestures to a teammate during the World Cup 2026 Group K match between Portugal and DR Congo in Houston on 17/6. Photo: AP.

Portugal started strong, with Joao Neves scoring the opening goal in the 6th minute, moving from the second line and heading the ball into DR Congo's net. However, Roberto Martinez's squad reduced their pace after the goal, failing to create many further opportunities.

Portugal had anticipated a straightforward World Cup 2026 opener. However, Gabilondo noted that Ronaldo experienced a challenging match. At 41, the Madeira-born forward still commands stadium-filling presence, but he could not convert this expectation into goals.

The newspaper highlighted several other disappointing players, including Bernardo Silva. In his first official match since joining Real Madrid, the midfielder struggled to make an impact against the Congo defense. He was substituted immediately after halftime following a yellow card, having created no opportunities for his teammates.

Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes, both world-class players in their positions, collectively created only one chance for their teammates during the game. Ronaldo had two notable opportunities in the second half, following passes from substitute Francisco Conceicao, but both attempts were unsuccessful. The author remarked that it was not Ronaldo's day, suggesting a lack of scoring luck.

Vitinha (below) vies for the ball with Samuel Moutoussamy during Portugal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo in World Cup 2026 Group K at Houston on 17/6. Photo: AP.

Statistics revealed the European team's struggle. Portugal maintained 75,4% possession and completed 783 passes, more than three times that of DR Congo. However, their expected goals (xG) index was lower than their opponents, at 0,69 compared to 0,82. DR Congo even had more shots, with eight attempts to Portugal's seven.

Gabilondo asserted that Portugal's issues were not individual. The team lacked defensive solidity without injured center-back Ruben Dias. Despite possessing numerous stars, they struggled to convert their control into genuinely dangerous opportunities.

The newspaper even suggested that Congo could have caused an upset by scoring more goals in the final minutes. The entire Portuguese squad performed below par, with the exception of Joao Neves and, to some extent, Pedro Neto. More than half of their starting lineup received Fotmob ratings below 7 points, indicating average performance. Ronaldo was merely one of these players.

Portugal brought on Rafael Leao and Goncalo Ramos, even substituting Vitinha to boost their attack. Yet, in the final minutes, Martinez's team continued to rely heavily on Ronaldo's ability to make a difference.

Hoang An (via Diario AS).