Cristiano Ronaldo endured another frustrating night as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by Congo despite taking an early lead through João Neves.
While stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi stole the headlines with goals on Tuesday, Ronaldo failed to find the net once again. The 41-year-old has now gone 10 consecutive matches in major international competitions without scoring.
Opponents appear less intimidated than in the past. Congo midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau admitted that his team did not prepare a specific plan to stop Ronaldo, saying, “He’s older now. To be honest, he’s no longer the same player.”
The result has reignited debate in Portugal over Ronaldo’s automatic place in the starting lineup. Critics argue that his presence limits the team’s attacking potential, with some claiming Portugal “plays with 10 men” when he starts.
French pundit Daniel Riolo was particularly harsh, saying Portugal played “with a post up front” and describing Ronaldo as a burden on the team.
Despite the growing criticism, Ronaldo remains a central figure for Portugal, but questions about his role and future continue to intensify after another disappointing performance.
