Cristiano Ronaldo Faces Heavy Criticism After Portugal’s Draw with Congo in World Cup 2026

portugals-draw-with-congo-in-world-cup-2026/">Cristiano Ronaldo has come under intense scrutiny from Portuguese media following Portugal’s 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup group stage.

The Portuguese captain failed to make a significant impact during the match, playing the full game but extending his goal drought to ten consecutive matches in major tournaments. He missed two clear opportunities in the second half, raising questions about his performance despite achieving a historic milestone as the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match at age 41.

Portuguese newspapers were quick to criticize both Ronaldo and the team’s performance. The publication “A Bola” featured a prominent image of Ronaldo on its front page, highlighting that things are not going as planned, referring to the lackluster display and missed chances during the game.

“Record” noted that Portugal will struggle to achieve its goals if performances continue in this manner, pointing out the absence of the expected attacking influence from their captain.

Meanwhile, “O Jogo” described Portugal’s World Cup start as unconvincing, while “Correio da Manhã” took a sarcastic tone to express concerns within the team, emphasizing that there are numerous issues requiring urgent solutions.

In this context, “Diário de Notícias” suggested that Ronaldo suffered from a lack of attacking support and poor chance creation from his teammates. Conversely, “Jornal de Notícias” indicated that his performance fell within the general context of the team’s mediocre display.

The criticism extended beyond print media, with “SIC Notícias” asserting that Ronaldo is no longer providing the expected contributions for the national team at this stage, marking one of the strongest rebukes aimed at the veteran star after the match.

The debate also touched upon head coach Roberto Martinez, who faced backlash for his tactical decisions. There are calls for him to reassess some strategic choices ahead of their next match against Uzbekistan, particularly regarding the starting lineup and Ronaldo’s role within the squad.

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