Ronaldo scoreless as Portugal draws with DR Congo in World Cup opener

Cristiano Ronaldo's sixth World Cup campaign began disappointingly as Portugal drew 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston on Wednesday. Joao Neves gave Portugal an early lead with a header in the sixth minute, but Yoane Wissa's unmarked header late in the first half equalised for DR Congo, securing the African nation's first-ever point at a World Cup. The match marked a historic moment for the DRC, who were appearing at the finals for the first time since 1974, despite disruptions to their preparations caused by an Ebola outbreak in their country.

Ronaldo, 41, was largely peripheral throughout the match, failing to convert chances in the 68th and 73rd minutes when his shots went wide. The Portuguese legend had opportunities set up by Francisco Conceicao but could not find the net, contrasting sharply with rivals Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick against Algeria the previous day, and other top players including Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland who all scored in their opening matches. The performance marked a forgettable start for Ronaldo, who posted on social media afterwards: "It wasn't the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Head up and focus on the next game."

Portugal dominated possession but struggled to create sufficient chances and lacked a cutting edge in attack. Coach Roberto Martinez acknowledged the team felt the pressure of tournament expectations and failed to maintain the intensity needed to build on their early advantage. "We didn't create enough chances and probably we lost that intention of scoring the second goal," Martinez said, adding that the team needed to focus on winning individual matches rather than being weighed down by broader ambitions.

Ronaldo's appearance marked his 229th international match, the most for any man in history, and he became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, surpassing Canada's Atiba Hutchinson's record from four years earlier. Martinez indicated that Ronaldo would be assessed on a match-by-match basis going forward, treating him no differently from other players despite his age. This is expected to be Ronaldo's final World Cup tournament as he continues his career with Saudi club Al-Nassr.

DR Congo's achievement was celebrated by their coach Sebastien Desabre, who praised the team's effort against a strong Portuguese side. Newcastle forward Wissa's goal registered DR Congo's first-ever World Cup goal, sparking celebrations among players, staff and supporters in the stadium. The result sets up intriguing prospects for both teams' remaining group matches, with Portugal facing Uzbekistan and Colombia next.