Ronaldo's quiet World Cup start raises questions as Portugal draw with DR Congo

TL;DR Summary
Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their World Cup 2026 opener as Cristiano Ronaldo, the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, struggled for space and touches, with all three shots off target; coach Roberto Martinez defended him, while pundits debated Ronaldo's role as Portugal chase a knockout run and the potential for him to score in upcoming group games.
- What went wrong for Cristiano Ronaldo in his first World Cup 2026 match? Al Jazeera
- Cristiano Ronaldo: World Cup 'far from over' despite Portugal's bad start ESPN
- No 'special plan' needed for Cristiano Ronaldo! DR Congo star claims CR7 'isn't the same as before' after Portugal stunned in 2026 World Cup opener Yahoo Sports
- Cristiano Ronaldo looks a sad shell of the great footballer he once was - The Athletic The New York Times
- Congolese and Portugal fans react to historic 1-1 draw at FIFA World Cup 2026 Click2Houston
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