Ronaldo Under Fire After Portugal's DR Congo Draw in World Cup Qualifier

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the centre of debate following Portugal's inability to secure victory against DR Congo in their opening World Cup 2026 qualifier on Wednesday. The match ended 1-1, with João Neves scoring Portugal's goal in the sixth minute before DR Congo equalised through striker Yoan Wissa.

The result has triggered sharp criticism of Ronaldo's performance, despite his status as team captain. High-profile football figures have delivered mixed verdicts on the veteran forward.

British broadcaster Piers Morgan mounted a defence of Ronaldo, arguing that midfielder Bruno Fernandes delivered a more disappointing display than the captain, who operated as a winger rather than a traditional striker. However, former Manchester United players Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes took opposing views, with Butt describing Ronaldo as a 'massive problem' for the national team and Scholes questioning whether a 41-year-old can function effectively as a striker rather than a goalkeeper—a critical comment about Ronaldo's age relative to his position.

Former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira raised concerns that Ronaldo's legacy could suffer if he remains central to Portugal's plans without delivering results. Vieira urged coach Roberto Martinez to prioritise the team's overall performance ahead of Portugal's next fixture against Uzbekistan next week.

Martinez has defended his decision to keep Ronaldo on the pitch throughout the DR Congo match, though he declined to address questions about the captain directly during post-match comments. The debate reflects broader questions about Ronaldo's role in Portugal's World Cup campaign, with sources noting Martinez leads a squad that won the Nations League in summer 2025 and is considered among the tournament's competitive contenders alongside France, Spain, England, and defending champions Argentina.

Portugal's inability to dominate DR Congo despite controlling possession has intensified scrutiny on how the team deploys its resources.