NEW DELHI: Portugal were expected to start their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a convincing win, but things did not go according to plan. After a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo, several Cristiano RonaldoHis Portugal teammates have come under intense abuse on social media, with some fans claiming the veteran striker was deliberately ignored during the game.Criticism gained further momentum after Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, questioned the Portuguese approach in a cryptic post on social media. “Magically, they’ve forgotten how to: pass the ball; return it; launch counter-attacks. The game has become all about passing backwards in midfield… a strange World Cup. Very strange.”Portugal, one of the pre-tournament favorites, struggled to topple a DR Congo side that was well below them in the FIFA rankings. Ronaldo, who became the oldest outfield player to start a FIFA World Cup match at the age of 41, endured a quiet night and managed just 25 touches despite playing the full 90 minutes.The result drew criticism from coach Roberto Martinez and several Portuguese players, with some Ronaldo fans accusing them of not involving their captain enough in attacking situations.Midfielders Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and winger Pedro Neto were among those whose social media accounts were flooded with hostile messages after the game. Neves in particular came under fire after he said Ronaldo should be seen as “just another player” within the squad as Portugal hunt for World Cup glory.Portuguese media even warned of a possible “civil war” in the dressing room if the abuse continued, while dismissing suggestions that Ronaldo’s teammates had deliberately denied him the ball.Ronaldo’s own performance has also come under scrutiny. After seeing rivals such as Lionel MessiKylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland scored in their opening World Cup games, but the Portuguese captain failed to get on the scoresheet.Players including VinÃcius Júnior, Christian Pulisic, Viktor Gyökeres and Harry Kane also hit the net earlier in the tournament, making Ronaldo’s blank all the more notable.However, the 41-year-old achieved a historic milestone by joining Messi as the only players to appear in six FIFA World Cups. But a day after Messi scored a hat-trick, Ronaldo missed opportunities to become the first player to score at six different World Cups, scoring in the 68th and 73rd minutes.Ronaldo did not speak to reporters after the game, but later posted a message on X.“It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over,” he wrote. “Keep your head up and focus on the next game.”Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended his captain when asked if he had considered replacing him.“It doesn’t make sense to make the world’s best goalscorer come out when you need goals,” said MartÃnez. “Cristiano’s experience in the box is important. “The way he attracts defenders is important.”DR Congo midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau, who is 20 years younger than Ronaldo, admitted his side have a clear strategy against the Portuguese icon.“We know that Ronaldo is not the same as before,” said Mukau. “So we know he runs less, less effort. So yeah, it was up to our defense to stop him, and they did a great job.”Wednesday’s game was the 229th international appearance of Ronaldo’s career, extending his record for most appearances by a single player. Although he led Portugal to the 2016 European Championship title, his best finish at the World Cup remains the 2006 tournament, when Portugal reached the semi-finals.
