Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence following a deeply disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The 41-year-old football icon played the full 90 minutes in Texas but failed to register a goal or an assist, prompting a wave of intense criticism across international media.
Ronaldo Hits Career-Low Stat in Major Tournaments
The match exposed a shocking decline in Ronaldo’s involvement on the pitch. The legendary forward managed only 25 touches of the ball over 90 minutes—the absolute lowest number of touches he has ever recorded in a single match throughout his entire World Cup and European Championship career.
This performance extends his worrying drought to 11 consecutive major tournament matches without scoring a single goal, a slump dating back to the Qatar 2022 World Cup, through Euro 2024, and now into 2026.
“It’s Not Over Yet” – Ronaldo’s Rallying Cry on X
Despite the heavy backlash and the historic low stat, Ronaldo took to social media to rally his teammates and nation. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Al-Nassr star urged Portugal to look ahead:
“This wasn’t the start we wanted, but it’s not over yet. Let’s keep our heads up and focus entirely on the next match.”
Portugal will look to redeem themselves and secure maximum points on Tuesday against Uzbekistan as they fight to reclaim the top spot in the group for a smoother path in the knockout stages.
