Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating start to his 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, extending his goal drought for Portugal in a disappointing outing. To make matters worse, DRC fans mocked the Portuguese star with chants Lionel Messiname following Portugal’s 1-1 draw in their Group K opener in Houston on Wednesday.Ronaldo endured a frustrating night against a disciplined Congolese defence. The 41-year-old played the full 90 minutes but struggled to make an impact, managing just 25 touches and failing to register a single shot on goal.As Ronaldo headed for the tunnel after the final whistle, sections of the DR Congo fans started loudly chanting “Messi, Messi, Messi”. Videos circulating on social media show how the Portuguese star remained composed despite the taunts. Ronaldo smiled back, applauded the crowd and calmly entered the dressing room.The shouts came just a day after Lionel Messi produced a sensational performance for Argentina, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria in Group J.
| Players | team | The result of the match | Objectives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | Won 3-0 against Algeria | 3 (hat trick) |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | They drew 1-1 against DR Congo | 0 |
Yoane Wiss’ goal brings DR Congo to a draw against Portugal
Portugal were held to a shock 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group K opener at NRG Stadium in Houston. João Neves gave Portugal an early lead in the sixth minute and Roberto MartÃnez’s side dominated possession for most of the match but failed to convert their control into goals.DR Congo hit back just before half-time when Yoane Wiss headed home Arthur Masuaku’s corner in stoppage time. Portugal thought they had restored the lead with João Cancelo’s spectacular overhead kick, but VAR ruled it out for offside. Cristiano Ronaldo also had a frustrating night, missing two close-range chances and failing to hit the crossbar.As the game wore on, DR Congo looked increasingly dangerous on the counter-attack, forcing Portugal’s defenders into desperate fouls. The African side ended up securing a historic first point at the World Cup, while Portugal were left disappointed after failing to capitalize on their dominance.
