Houston: Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating start to his FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign as Portugal were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by DR Congo, with the night ending on a sour note for the Portuguese superstar after opposition fans taunted him with chants of “Messi, Messi” following the final whistle.
Portugal entered the tournament as one of the favourites and made a dream start when João Neves gave them an early lead. However, despite dominating possession for long periods, Roberto Martinez’s side struggled to convert their control into clear scoring opportunities. DR Congo capitalised on one of their few chances, with Yoane Wissa scoring an equaliser before halftime to secure a historic point for the African nation.
As the match ended, sections of DR Congo supporters were heard chanting the name of Argentine captain Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s long-time football rival. The chants quickly went viral on social media, adding another chapter to one of football’s most celebrated rivalries.
The moment came less than 24 hours after Messi produced a stunning hat-trick for Argentina in a 3-0 victory over Algeria, equalling Miroslav Klose’s World Cup goals record and dominating global football headlines. With Messi delivering a match-winning performance and Ronaldo unable to inspire Portugal to victory, comparisons between the two icons intensified once again.
For Ronaldo, the draw was particularly disappointing because it extended a lengthy goal drought in major international tournaments. The 41-year-old, who became only the second men’s footballer after Messi to appear in six FIFA World Cups, struggled to make a significant impact against a disciplined DR Congo defence. Reports noted that he had limited involvement in the game as Portugal failed to break down their resilient opponents.
Despite the criticism and online reactions, Ronaldo remained defiant after the match. In a message to supporters, he acknowledged that the result was not what Portugal had hoped for but insisted that the World Cup campaign was “far from over.” He urged teammates and fans to remain united as Portugal prepare for crucial upcoming matches against Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.
The draw leaves Portugal with work to do in a group that suddenly appears more competitive than expected. Meanwhile, DR Congo celebrated a memorable result in their first World Cup appearance in more than five decades, earning widespread praise for their disciplined performance and determination against one of the tournament favourites.
While the “Messi, Messi” chants grabbed headlines, Ronaldo and Portugal will now be focused on responding on the pitch. With two group-stage matches remaining, the Portuguese captain still has an opportunity to silence critics and add another memorable chapter to his extraordinary international career.
