Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest for another piece of World Cup history was put on hold as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opening Group K match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at NRG Stadium in Houston on Wednesday.
In front of a crowd of 68,777, largely dressed in Portugal’s colors, the European giants looked poised for a comfortable start after taking an early lead. Instead, DR Congo produced a spirited performance to earn a memorable point in their first World Cup appearance in 52 years.
Portugal struck just six minutes into the contest when João Neves rose above the defense to head home a pinpoint cross from Pedro Neto. The goal settled Portugal early and appeared to set the tone for what many expected would be a routine victory for Roberto Martínez’s side.
However, DR Congo refused to be intimidated by the occasion. Making only their second World Cup appearance, and their first since competing as Zaire in 1974, the African side gradually grew into the match and began creating opportunities of their own.
Their persistence paid off in first-half stoppage time. Arthur Masuaku delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area, and Yoane Wissa met it with a powerful header that beat the Portuguese goalkeeper. The equalizer sparked celebrations among the small but passionate contingent of Congolese supporters and marked a historic milestone DR Congo’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup.
The strike ended a decades-long wait for a World Cup goal. In their previous tournament appearance in West Germany in 1974, the nation failed to score in defeats to Scotland (2-0), Yugoslavia (9-0), and Brazil (3-0).
Portugal pushed hard after the break in search of a winner. João Cancelo thought he had produced one of the goals of the tournament in the 55th minute when he connected with a spectacular bicycle kick. The celebrations were short-lived, however, as the effort was ruled out for offside.
Moments later, DR Congo nearly completed the turnaround. Cédric Bakambu found space inside the area and fired a shot that struck the near post, leaving Portugal relieved to avoid falling behind.
Much of the attention before kickoff centered on Cristiano Ronaldo, who made history by becoming one of only two players, alongside Argentina captain Lionel Messi, to appear in six FIFA World Cups. Ronaldo also became the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match, surpassing the record previously held by Canada’s Atiba Hutchinson.
The Portuguese superstar had opportunities to create another landmark moment by becoming the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments. But frustration followed instead. Ronaldo sent efforts wide in both the 68th and 73rd minutes, shaking his head in disappointment after each miss.
Portugal’s final chance arrived in the 90th minute when Bruno Fernandes found himself in a promising position, but his shot also drifted wide of the target, summing up a frustrating night for the 2016 European champions.
The evening also carried an emotional element for Portugal. The parents of Diogo Jota, who tragically died alongside his brother in a car accident last summer, attended the match from a luxury suite as the team honored the memory of their former teammate.
While Portugal will be disappointed not to begin their campaign with three points, DR Congo celebrated a historic result that demonstrated the growing strength of African football at the tournament. Following Cape Verde’s scoreless draw against Spain earlier in the week, another African nation showed it can compete with Europe’s elite on the biggest stage.
Group K remains wide open after the draw, with Portugal left searching for improvement and DR Congo buoyed by a result that could prove crucial in their bid to reach the knockout stage.
