Portugal Held by DR Congo as Ronaldo Endures Frustrating Night

Portugal drew 1-1 with DR Congo on Wednesday at Houston Stadium. The result opened Group K at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo played all 90 minutes but could not find a winner for his side.

Quick match summary

How the goals happened

Portugal took the lead early through a well-worked move. Pedro Neto delivered a precise cross, and João Neves headed it into the far corner. It was only the midfielder's fourth international goal.

DR Congo struck back deep in first-half stoppage time. Arthur Masuaku floated in a high cross from the left, and Yoane Wissa rose to head it past goalkeeper Diogo Costa. Goal.com's player ratings suggested Costa could have come out to claim that cross.

Portugal dominated possession after taking the lead but slowed their attacking play. They managed only a handful of further shot attempts across the full match. Substitute Francisco Conceição created two clear chances for Ronaldo late on, but neither chance produced a shot on target.

Ronaldo's night to forget

Ronaldo finished the match without a single shot on target. He attempted three shots in total during his 90 minutes on the pitch. This was the sixth time he has gone shotless on target at a World Cup.

The result extended Ronaldo's scoreless run in major tournaments to ten straight matches. That streak spans both World Cups and European Championships. His last non-penalty goal in a major tournament came on June 19, 2021.

Ronaldo also became only the second man to feature in six World Cups. Lionel Messi reached that mark a day earlier, on Tuesday. Messi marked the occasion with a hat-trick, while Ronaldo left Wednesday's match without a goal.

Ronaldo has scored in five separate World Cup editions, from 2006 through 2022. None of his eight career World Cup goals have come in a knockout match. He remains Portugal's all-time leading scorer with 143 international goals.

A historic point for DR Congo

DR Congo earned their first World Cup point in 52 years. Their only previous appearance came in 1974, when they competed as Zaire and lost 3-0 to Brazil before exiting in the group stage.

Coach Sébastien Desabre has led the team since 2022 and guided them to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semifinals. His squad includes several players with English Premier League experience, including Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, and Arthur Masuaku.

DR Congo reached this World Cup through a difficult playoff route. They beat Jamaica 1-0 in an intercontinental playoff match in Mexico back in March. Their preparation for the tournament was also disrupted by an Ebola outbreak at home.

What Roberto Martinez said afterward

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended his decision to keep Ronaldo on the pitch for the full match. He argued that benching a top scorer during a goal-scoring slump made little sense.

Martinez pointed to history when discussing the result. He noted that Argentina lost their 2022 World Cup opener to Saudi Arabia and still went on to win the trophy. He added that Spain suffered a similar early loss in 2010 before lifting that year's title.

Martinez said his team lost intensity after taking an early lead, which let DR Congo settle into the game. He called it the first match of a long tournament and said there was no reason to panic yet.

What happens next

Portugal will face Uzbekistan on June 23, again in Houston. A win would put them in a strong position to advance from Group K. DR Congo will look to build on their point against Colombia on June 24.

Both results from this opening round will shape how Group K's later matches are approached. Portugal entered the tournament as one of the pre-tournament favorites, while DR Congo arrived as clear underdogs.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What was the final score between Portugal and DR Congo?

Portugal and DR Congo drew 1-1 in their World Cup Group K opener in Houston.

Q: Did Cristiano Ronaldo score against DR Congo?

No, Ronaldo did not score. He finished the match without a single shot on target.

Q: Who scored DR Congo's goal?

Yoane Wissa scored DR Congo's equalizer with a header from an Arthur Masuaku cross.

Q: When was DR Congo's last World Cup appearance before 2026?

DR Congo last appeared at a World Cup in 1974, when they competed as Zaire.

Q: When does Portugal play next at the 2026 World Cup?

Portugal plays Uzbekistan on June 23 in their second Group K match in Houston.