DR Congo Hold Portugal 1-1 at 2026 World Cup as Cristiano Ronaldo Performance Sparks Social Media Backlash

DR Congo produced one of the standout results of the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening round on Wednesday, holding a star-studded Portugal side to a 1-1 draw at NRG Stadium in Houston. The result was historic for the Leopards, who are competing at their first World Cup since 1974 — when the nation participated under the name Zaire.

Portugal appeared to be in command when João Neves headed home in the sixth minute, converting a cross from Pedro Neto to give Roberto Martinez’s side an early advantage. With captain Cristiano Ronaldo leading a squad featuring Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Rafael Leão, a comfortable Portuguese victory appeared the likely outcome.

However, Sébastien Desabre’s side refused to capitulate. Anchored by veteran centre-back Chancel Mbemba and inspired by goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, DR Congo absorbed sustained pressure before striking in first-half stoppage time. Wissa powered home a cross from Arthur Masuaku to level the match and ignite wild celebrations among the Congolese supporters inside the stadium.

The equaliser was not just a goal — it was a moment of history. DR Congo had never previously scored or earned a point at a FIFA World Cup, making Wissa’s finish a landmark moment for African football.

While the Leopards celebrated a hard-earned point, much of the post-match conversation online centred on Ronaldo’s contribution — or perceived lack thereof. Social media platforms, particularly X, were quickly flooded with reactions to the 41-year-old’s performance.

Nigerian filmmaker and director TG Omori, known professionally as boy_director, was among the most widely shared voices, posting: “Ronaldo no wan work, he wan chop 😂” The post spread rapidly across football communities on X, generating thousands of replies, memes, and commentary about the Portuguese captain’s role in the team.

Other users were more direct in their assessments. One account wrote: “Portugal are playing one man-down just to massage the ego of one old man,” while another posted: “Ronaldo is the biggest problem this Portugal super team has. The earlier they admit it, the better. There’s literally nothing a 41-year-old can do anymore.” Several users called on coach Roberto Martinez to drop Ronaldo from the starting lineup ahead of Portugal’s remaining group-stage fixtures.

Not all reactions were critical. A section of supporters moved to defend Ronaldo, citing his age as context for his performance level. “Life is so unfair. Ronaldo been carrying this useless team since he was 18 years. Now that he’s 41 no one to carry him,” one user posted. Others echoed the sentiment, with multiple accounts simply stating: “He’s 41, cut him some slack.”

Some defenders of the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward argued that Portugal’s failure to supply him with quality service was equally at fault, and that expecting a player of his age to press intensely across ninety minutes was unreasonable. Others suggested that even on a quiet night, Ronaldo’s presence draws defensive attention and opens space for teammates to exploit.

Ronaldo, who made his World Cup debut in 2006, is appearing at his sixth FIFA World Cup — a figure matched only by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa among outfield players historically. At 41, he remains one of the oldest outfield players at the 2026 tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Portugal will need to regroup quickly, while DR Congo will take significant confidence from their opening result as both sides look ahead to their next group-stage fixtures.