Otherwise based on socialist ideals, football has long been portrayed as a capitalistic enterprise with talent. His icons constantly challenge the idea that, with the ball at their feet, all men are equal—some more equal than others. As a result, attention is never evenly distributed.
Diego Armando Maradona was not the leading goalscorer at the 1986 World Cup and Pele was not victorious in any of the three editions. On Tuesday, three men demanded attention – Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. His performance proved why he did so – seven goals from the trio. On Wednesday, the spotlight fell on Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal faced DR Congo in Houston. He cut a disappointing figure in a 1-1 draw.
That he is still competing on the sport’s biggest stage is a testament to his commitment. At 41 years and 10 months, Ronaldo is the oldest outfield player to play in the World CupAnd second oldest overall, only Craig Gordon – Scottish goalkeeper who competed for 43 years and 5 months. He leads the goal-scoring charts in international and top-level association football with 143 and 973 goals respectively.
A stock of success, however, does not qualify a nation for the World Cup.
Portugal should have been content with starting coach Roberto Martinez on Wednesday. With Vitinha and Joao Neves – the same pair who won back-to-back Champions League titles with Paris Saint-Germain – controlling the midfield, they monopolized. Yet beyond Neves’ sixth-minute header, which scored the opening goal, Portugal’s elegance rarely translated into incision.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Game By Numbers Vs. DR Congo:
25 touches
19/21 Successfully Passed
5 touches in the opposite. box
1 pass in the final third
0/3 shots on targetThey silenced him. 🤫 pic.twitter.com/cFu8lbulgb
— Squawka (@Squawka) 17 June 2026
Clearly, the bridge between midfield and attack was not seamless. Clearly, the gap between youthful exuberance and laborious wandering was exploited. By the first hydration break, for example, Neves had completed every one of the 31 passes he attempted. Vitina had a completion rate of 98.1% (52 of 53), but threw 198.3 meters. Not that Ronaldo isn’t expected to match a midfielder 15 years his junior, but his distance is 24m.
By then he had barely ventured into commentary. Around the 40th minute, broadcasters highlighted Ronaldo’s influence — or lack thereof. The veteran had only 14 touches. The only Portuguese player he bettered was goalkeeper Diogo Costa, and he wasn’t far behind either, three shy of 11.
It was not the same as it was in Congo 1974, where Mwepu Ilunga found himself at the center of ridicule after kicking the ball before taking a free kick awarded by Brazil. When Ronaldo made his World Cup debut, Congo lost to Libya and Tanzania.
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In just 12 years. They have gone from a ranking of 96 to 46. Although, there has been no more famous incident in their history than in the fifth minute of first-half extra time, when Yone Wisane headed in Arthur Masuaku’s cross to become the Central African nation’s first goalscorer at the World Cup.
Portugal could have equalized in the second half. It was not possible as two big chances were wasted in the 68th and 74th minutes of the match. On both occasions, Juventus’ Francisco Trincão used his dancing shoes and low center of gravity to wriggle past defenders and find Ronaldo. On the first occasion, he could have laid the ball off for Bruno Fernandes, who would then have missed the goal. On the second occasion he could have kept the ball better. Ronaldo missed on both occasions.
Martinez called for calm from the touchline. Perhaps managing Portugal requires an element of fan service. Trincao, however, was less restrained. The winger punched the ball in frustration, a visible display of displeasure towards his captain.
Ronaldo, a liability
After being knocked out by Morocco at the last World Cup, Portugal have scored 67 goals in 30 games with Ronaldo, averaging 2.33 goals per game. On the eight occasions he did not play, Portugal scored 31 goals at 3.87 goals per game.
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Ronaldo has carried Portugal for decades. Their second-highest goal-scorer, Pauletta, is 96 goals shy of the talismanic figure. Perhaps, in 2026, the tables have turned, and Portugal now finds Ronaldo responsible. The sooner they identify the better.