Published on 6/18/2026
Despite being one of the most prolific strikers in history, Cristiano Ronaldo produced a poor performance at the start of his sixth World Cup appearance against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1-1), reigniting the debate about his usefulness to Portugal at the age of forty-one.
In Houston, Cristiano suffered from the contradiction with other football stars who shined in the first matches of the current edition of the World Cup, as Frenchman Kylian Mbappe and Englishman Harry Kane scored two goals, while Argentine Lionel Messi, who is also playing in his sixth World Cup, shined by scoring a hat-trick.
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Ronaldo’s fast against Congo
“We didn’t miss anything,” CR7 said after a disappointing team match. “This is football. Portugal could have won, but they could have lost as well.”
The problem is not new for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has 143 goals in 229 international matches. He has played 10 matches and taken 33 shots without scoring any goals in major competitions, since his only goal from a penalty kick against Ghana at the opening of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, before he was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
The Portuguese captain, who won the 2016 European Cup, achieved his best result in the World Cup by reaching the semi-finals in his first participation in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, when he lost to France.
Does the second oldest player in the tournament, who joined Al-Nasr and the rich Saudi League at the beginning of 2023, still have the required level, even after he long ago transformed from a fast winger into a less mobile spearhead carrying the number 9?
Against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, shirt number 7 touched the ball nearly twenty times, shot three times without hitting the goal, and seemed separated from his teammates despite the presence of distinguished players in the playmaking (Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha).
Former French international striker Thierry Henry, who works as an analyst for the American Fox network, commented, “It is the team that needs to score, not the individual.”
It is irreplaceable
The former French national team star cited Ronaldo’s inaccurate shot in the 68th minute as an example: Francisco Conceicao ran down the right wing, and instead of rushing towards the goal and attracting the defenders, Ronaldo dropped back and cut off the path of the pass directed to Bruno Fernandes.
“Run and make space,” Henry urged.
When Republic of the Congo midfielder Ngalile Mokau was asked if they had developed a special plan to reduce Ronaldo’s danger, he replied, “Not completely. We know that he is no longer the player he was, and that he has aged, but he remains one of the best players in history.”
He added, “At this age, one cannot perform the same as before, but I have great respect for him.”
Despite the criticism, which is not new, Ronaldo remains an undisputed starter in the eyes of his Spanish coach, Roberto Martinez, who kept him on the field until the final whistle.
Martinez defends his decision
Martinez explained his decision by saying, “In a match like this, where we struggle to reach the penalty area, we have to exploit Ronaldo’s potential. It is illogical to remove the all-time top scorer in a match in which we desperately need to score.”
The Spanish coach added, “Cristiano’s experience in the penalty area is important, as is his ability to attract defenders,” noting that he had stated to “The Athletic” website earlier this month that he considered the leader “irreplaceable.”
While striker Gonzalo Ramos awaits his turn on the bench, as he is accustomed to with Paris Saint-Germain in the French League, any possible adjustment from Martinez will be closely monitored before Tuesday’s match against Uzbekistan.
With one point, the Portuguese national team does not face any immediate danger, but it will need to raise its level of performance to create momentum that qualifies it to win the title, by finding collective solutions instead of relying on one player.
Through his Instagram account, Ronaldo sent a motivational message to his 666 million followers: “It was not the start we hoped for, but the journey is not over yet. Let us raise our heads and start thinking about the next match.”
