The Portuguese national team fans launched a fierce attack on Cristiano Ronaldo after his lackluster appearance in the match against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the start of the 2026 World Cup, which ended in a 1-1 draw amidst disappointing performance from the former European champion.
Despite a good start for the Portuguese team and an early goal by João Neves with a fine header, the team visibly retreated afterward, allowing the Democratic Republic of Congo to equalize through Johan Wissa, before the match ended in a historic draw for the African team.
All eyes were on Cristiano Ronaldo during his sixth World Cup appearance, but his statistics in the match sparked a wide wave of criticism, as he only touched the ball 25 times throughout the match, a number lower than that of goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Additionally, Ronaldo failed to shoot on target in the first half, managing only three shots throughout the match without any attempt between the posts, in a performance described as far from his usual impact in major matches.
Several fans on the “X” platform stated that Ronaldo was completely absent from the flow of the game, while others argued he has become a burden on the team and no longer provides the needed contribution in major matches.
Some fans called for him to sit on the bench, asserting that his spot in the starting lineup is no longer guaranteed, given his decline in physical and scoring form.
On the other hand, some fans felt that what he contributes is no longer sufficient at the highest level and that the Portuguese team needs more dynamic and faster attacking solutions instead of relying on their historic star at this stage of his career.
The fans' comments concluded with a sharp tone, as some described him as the worst player on the team during the match, in a tough night for the Portuguese captain at the start of a disappointing campaign in the 2026 World Cup. Eram News.