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A debut to forget, Ronaldo fails to make the difference in Portugal's equalizer

Politiko 2026-06-17 21:22:15

A debut to forget, Ronaldo fails to make the difference in Portugal's

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo failed to make a mark in his team's first match at the 2026 World Cup, as the Lusitanians were held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In his sixth appearance at a World Cup, the 41-year-old appeared far from the level that has characterized his career. The Portuguese striker struggled to get involved in the game, while the opposing defense managed to neutralize him for almost the entire match.

During the first half, Ronaldo had minimal impact in the attacking phase, touching the ball little and creating no threat to the opposing goal. Even after the break, despite Portugal's efforts to find the winning goal, the captain failed to capitalize on the spaces created.

The draw against Congo has raised questions about Ronaldo's role and impact in the rest of the tournament. In a competition where pace and intensity are crucial, Portugal will need more from their leader in the upcoming matches.

While the dream of a successful World Cup remains alive, the next challenges are expected to show whether Ronaldo can return to being the protagonist or whether age is making it increasingly difficult for him to be decisive on the biggest stage of world football.

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