Cristiano Ronaldo speaks out for the first time on why Portugal failed to beat DR Congo in their opening 2026 World Cup match.
On 18 June 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo, the star striker and captain of Portugal, gave his first interview after the 2026 World Cup Group K opening match ended in a 1-1 draw against DR Congo. Despite controlling 75 percent of possession throughout the game, Portugal managed only one shot on target.
When asked what mistakes Portugal made that prevented a win over DR Congo, 41-year-old Ronaldo replied, "There was nothing lacking. Football is like this. Portugal could have won, but they could also have lost."
Cristiano Ronaldo set a record as the second player after Argentina's captain Lionel Messi to appear in six World Cups. However, Messi differed by scoring a hat-trick to lead his team to a 3-0 victory over Algeria.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo had three shot attempts in the match but none were on target as Portugal drew 1-1 with DR Congo.
Ronaldo posted on his personal social media to motivate himself and the Portuguese team: "It wasn't the start we hoped for, but the journey is still long, and everything is not over yet. Keep your head up and focus on the next game."
In the 2026 World Cup Group K second match, Portugal will face Uzbekistan, who lost 1-3 to Colombia, on 23 June.