Ronaldo Accused of ‘Glory Hunting’ as Portugal Draw 1-1 With DR Congo at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage opener on June 17, a result that has since been overshadowed by mounting criticism directed at Cristiano Ronaldo following a largely ineffective performance from the veteran forward.

João Neves broke the deadlock for Portugal, but DR Congo levelled through Yoane Wissa, who outjumped the Portuguese defensive line to score — netting the Leopards’ first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup, a historic milestone for the African nation and for the continent.

While DR Congo’s equaliser drew widespread praise across Africa, attention quickly turned to Ronaldo’s contribution — or lack thereof — during the contest. The 41-year-old had minimal involvement in Portugal’s attacking play throughout the match and failed to register a single shot on target.

The moment that drew the sharpest reaction came in the second half, when Francisco Conceição delivered what was described as a flawless cut-back for Bruno Fernandes. According to reports, Ronaldo attempted to get on the end of the ball himself, inadvertently obstructing the chance and preventing Fernandes from converting what appeared to be a straightforward finish.

The incident ignited an immediate backlash on X (formerly Twitter), with supporters accusing Portugal’s all-time leading scorer of prioritising personal statistics over the collective interests of the team. The volume and intensity of the criticism reflected broader concerns about whether Ronaldo, now in the twilight of his international career, remains an asset to the Portugal setup at this level.

“Ronaldo is so freaking selfish,” one user wrote on X. Another posted: “If Ronaldo was not glory hunting, Bruno Fernandes would have scored.” A third added: “Ronaldo missing that is unbelievable,” while another described him as “bad luck for the Portugal team.”

The draw means Portugal begin their World Cup campaign with one point from their opening fixture. The result carries significant weight given the expectations surrounding a squad that includes Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leão, and Bernardo Silva alongside Ronaldo, who remains the focal point of Portugal’s attack despite his age and a domestic season with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League.

For DR Congo, the point represents a landmark achievement. The Leopards qualified for their first FIFA World Cup since 1974 — when they competed as Zaire — and their performance against one of Europe’s more established footballing nations will be regarded as an encouraging sign for African football’s growing presence on the global stage.

Ronaldo, who holds the record as the all-time top scorer in international football with over 130 goals for Portugal, now faces renewed questions about his role within the national team setup as the tournament progresses. Portugal will be looking to respond in their next group stage fixture, with the pressure on both the team and their iconic captain to deliver a more convincing showing.