It was supposed to be the night Cristiano Ronaldo answered his critics. Instead, the Portugal captain trudged off the pitch in Houston having failed to score as his team were held to a shock 1-1 draw by World Cup debutants DR Congo. The match felt like a passing-of-the-torch moment: the day before, Lionel Messi had scored a hat-trick for Argentina, Kylian Mbappe had hit a brace for France, and Erling Haaland had scored twice on his World Cup debut. Ronaldo, at 41, could not keep pace.
Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time — a five-time Ballon d'Or winner with 229 caps and 143 goals for Portugal. But at this World Cup, he is no longer the undisputed star of his team. Against DR Congo, Portugal dominated possession (75%) but managed only seven attempts at goal, with just one on target — the opening goal from Joao Neves. Ronaldo had two second-half chances but missed both. Former striker Chris Sutton, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, said manager Roberto Martinez was "scared to take him off" and that "the game has passed him by today." Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo's former Manchester United teammate, joked before the match that Ronaldo would be "raging" after seeing the other superstars shine.
“Cristiano Ronaldo's poor performance against DR Congo raises questions about aging football superstars.”
Ronaldo's career has been defined by relentless ambition and a rivalry with Messi that pushed both to extraordinary heights. Now playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, he is closing in on 1,000 career goals. He entered this tournament needing one goal to become the first man to score in six different World Cups — a record that would have underlined his longevity. But his performance against DR Congo raised questions about whether he can still compete at the highest level. The Mirror's chief sports writer described him as "the faded star of it" and noted that he was upstaged by DR Congo striker Yoane Wissa, who cost Newcastle United less than Ronaldo earns in six months.
For UK readers, Ronaldo's situation is a familiar story: every great athlete eventually faces the moment when age catches up. The debate over whether Ronaldo is a "spent force" mirrors that around other aging stars in sport. His legacy is secure, but this World Cup feels like a referendum on whether he can still produce moments of magic. Portugal are one of the tournament favourites, and their next group matches will determine whether Ronaldo can silence the doubters or whether this is the beginning of the end.
Q: Why did Cristiano Ronaldo struggle against DR Congo? Portugal dominated the game but lacked creativity. Ronaldo's teammates — Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Vitinha — controlled possession but rarely found him in dangerous areas. He also missed two clear chances in the second half. By the time striker Goncalo Ramos came on in the 83rd minute (replacing midfielder Vitinha), it was too late to change the result.
Q: How does Ronaldo's performance compare to Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland? The day before, Messi scored a hat-trick to move level with Miroslav Klose as the joint-top World Cup goalscorer of all time. Mbappe scored twice to become France's all-time leading scorer. Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut. Ronaldo, by contrast, failed to score and was largely ineffective — a stark contrast that prompted commentators to call him "the faded star."
Q: What records could Ronaldo still break at this World Cup? He needs one goal to become the first man to score in six different World Cups (he has scored in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022). He is also closing in on 1,000 career goals for club and country.
Q: What happens next for Portugal and Ronaldo? Portugal have two more group matches. They are still strong favourites to advance, but the draw with DR Congo puts pressure on them to win the remaining games. Ronaldo will likely start again, but if he continues to struggle, manager Roberto Martinez may face pressure to drop him for younger players like Goncalo Ramos.