But in Houston on the evening of June 17, that answer did not come. Portugal held the DR Congo to a 1-1 draw in the opening match of Group K, and Ronaldo ended the 90 minutes with three shots, all of which went out.
Portugal took the lead, then was pulled back
The match started according to the expected scenario. Portugal pressed early, and after just six minutes, Joao Neves — the PSG midfielder who wasn’t even born when Ronaldo left for Euro 2004 — opened the scoring with a pinpoint header from Pedro Neto’s cross. Portugal controlled the game, Congo crouched and waited.
Thought this was a pleasant afternoon for “Seleccao”. But right in the final seconds of the first half, Yoane Wissa — the Brentford striker who made the Premier League miserable — fired in a shot with both feet in the fifth minute of stoppage time, equalizing the score. That unexpected blow completely changed the outcome of the match
A “lost” Ronaldo in the middle of the World Cup
The Portugal captain’s performance was the center of attention — and not in the way he would have liked. Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes, but most of the time was blocked by Congo’s five-man defense system. Three attempts, all three failed to hit the target. He had a chance to hit a dangerous header and fell in the penalty area after a collision with Mbemba, but there was no whistle from the referee.
On the BBC, Wayne Rooney commented that Ronaldo constantly stretched the defense, creating space for his teammates – a compliment filled with the color of consolation. The invisible “decoy” role is not what fans expect from a 41-year-old striker who has dominated previous World Cups.
This match marked Ronaldo’s 23rd appearance at the World Cup, equaling legendary Paolo Maldini. He has gone down in history — but the ninth goal to equal Eusebio’s Portuguese record still lies ahead, like an unanswered question.
Congo writes history, Portugal is out of tune
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo was the team that left the field with elated emotions. This is the first score in their World Cup history — 52 years after their only appearance in 1974, when this African team was still called Zaire. Captain Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Wissa played with a courageous spirit, proving that African football is making significant progress that cannot be underestimated.
In the second half, coach Roberto Martinez sent Goncalo Ramos to replace Vitinha, switching to a 4-2-4 attack scheme with four players attacking at the same time. Portugal continuously stuffed the ball into Congo’s penalty area, but goalkeeper Mpasi and the rolling defenders stopped everything. Joao Cancelo once put the ball into the net but the goal was denied because of offside. And Congo almost had a second goal when Bakambu turned beautifully and shot the ball against the post.
The road ahead is no longer easy
The 1-1 draw put Portugal in a difficult position from the start. With two remaining matches in Group K against Colombia and Uzbekistan, Martinez’s team must win to keep control of their destiny. But more importantly — they need to find themselves again, before the tournament continues.
Ronaldo is 41 years old. This World Cup may be the last time he wears the team shirt at the world’s biggest conference. But what happened last night in Houston was a harsh reminder that, no matter how legendary, football has no room for complacency — and this World Cup will wait for no one.
