Cristiano Ronaldo left his fans disappointed after failing to put in an impressive performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
DR Congo pulled off what many are calling an upset after holding Portugal’s strong 11-man line-up, which included Ronaldo, Joao Neves, Silva and Fernandes, to a 1-1 draw.
The Group K match, held on Wednesday in Houston, ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Neves scored for Portugal’s team, while Yoane Wissa scored for DR Congo. The underwhelming performance upset Portugal’s fans, who were expecting an exciting opening match from their favorite side.
One X user criticized Ronaldo for not turning up, writing: “To all the @Cristiano fans, I understand why you think he’s a magician. He has the ability to magically be invisible throughout matches. The invisible man strikes again!”
Another expressed: “Portugal are favorites in this tournament but unfortunately Ronaldo’s ego will be a detriment to the squad. He would be ideal to come off the bench. It’s a hard truth to swallow for all Ronaldo fans but his best days are in the distant past.”
Fans are calling for the 41-year-old leading international goalscorer to be benched amid his plans to stay fit and also feature in the 2030 World Cup.
