Portugal’s captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, has shared his thoughts following his team’s 1-1 stalemate against DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. The encounter took place on Wednesday in Houston, Texas.
The 41-year-old forward played the entire game but struggled to make an impact, managing only two weak shots as Portugal failed to secure a win. The draw came as a disappointing start for the European side.
Joao Neves gave Portugal the lead, but Yohan Wissa equalized for DR Congo with a header just before halftime. Despite the setback, Ronaldo remains optimistic about the team’s chances in the tournament.
Taking to social media, Ronaldo wrote: “It’s not the start we wanted, but this is FAR from being over. Focus on the next game.” The message came after the match, emphasizing the need to move forward.
Portugal’s next group stage fixture is against Uzbekistan, scheduled for next Tuesday. The team will look to bounce back and secure a victory to keep their campaign on track.