World Cup 2026 Day 7: Ronaldo Sets Scoring Drought Record as England and Ghana Win

The 2026 FIFA World Cup's seventh day of competition on June 17 saw mixed fortunes for football's elite, with Cristiano Ronaldo's continued struggles contrasting sharply with dominant performances from England and Ghana. Portugal drew 1-1 with DR Congo in a match that highlighted Ronaldo's recent form challenges. The Portuguese star, playing in his sixth World Cup match, managed zero shots on target and extended his remarkable drought to 10 consecutive major tournament games without a goal—his second-longest scoring drought in World Cup history. At 41 years and 123 days old, Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, a record that underscores his exceptional longevity in international football. He also joined Lionel Messi as the only men to play in six different World Cups. Despite Portugal's dominance with 75 percent possession—the highest recorded in any World Cup 2026 match to date—they were outshot by Congo DR, who scored through Yoane Wissa's equalizer, marking their first World Cup goal in their fourth tournament appearance.

England delivered a commanding performance, defeating Croatia 4-2 in a result that ended a nine-game winless streak against top-15 ranked sides and marked their first such victory since 2002 against Argentina. Marcus Rashford distinguished himself as the first English player to score twice as a substitute in World Cup history, while Jude Bellingham showcased his talent by becoming one of only five European players to score in each of the last three major tournaments—and at 22 years 353 days, the youngest to achieve this feat. Bellingham scored just 85 seconds into the second half, England's fastest second-half goal of the tournament.

Ghana secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama with Caleb Yirenkyi's 95th-minute winner, while Colombia dominated Uzbekistan 3-1 in a match that proved more competitive than the scoreline suggested. The day's statistics revealed broader narratives: Portugal's 75 percent possession was the highest by a team with fewer shots than their opponent in World Cup history since 1966. João Neves' goal made him the third-youngest Portuguese World Cup scorer at 21 years and 263 days. Meanwhile, Croatia snapped a six-game unbeaten streak in World Cup group stages, their first group-stage loss since 2014.

Ronaldo's struggles remain a defining storyline of the tournament. With only 25 touches in the match—his second-fewest in a World Cup start—and having taken 33 shots across his scoring drought with just 11 on target, the Portugal legend faces mounting pressure to rediscover his finishing. His previous five-game World Cup scoring drought matches his longest active streak in the competition.