Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has acknowledged his side’s disappointing start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening fixture.
The veteran forward was unable to find the net during the encounter, as Portugal failed to secure maximum points against the African side.
Midfielder João Neves gave Portugal the lead, but DR Congo responded before the break through Yoane Wissa, who levelled the scoreline with a header.
Ronaldo featured for the entire duration of the match but managed only a couple of attempts that failed to trouble the opposition significantly.
Reacting after the game, the 41-year-old admitted the result fell short of expectations but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to recover.
“It’s not the start we wanted, but the competition is still open. Our focus is now on the next match,” he stated.
Portugal will aim to secure their first win when they face Uzbekistan in their next group fixture.
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