Ronaldo under pressure after Portugal's draw with DR Congo

23.06.2026 18:02 HotInfo 15

Following its opening 1:1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Portugal is grappling above all with Cristiano Ronaldo's status ahead of its second match at the 2026 World Cup against Uzbekistan. Coach Roberto Martínez did not reveal ahead of Tuesday's game whether he will again include the 41-year-old forward in the starting lineup. teraz.sk ↗

Portugal entered the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico as one of the favorites, while DR Congo was hoping for a historic showing against a significantly stronger opponent. The draw, however, changed the atmosphere around the team. Ronaldo failed to score in the first match and, according to available data, has not scored a goal in his last ten appearances at World Cups and European Championships, despite having taken 33 shots in total. Der Standard ↗

As a result, the debate has reopened in Portugal over whether his presence in the lineup helps the team or hinders the fluency of its play. The criticism has also touched Martínez, who faces questions about the composition of the attack and about whether the national team might have a better chance without Ronaldo in the starting eleven. Winger Francisco Conceição also stressed that Portuguese players are not obliged to look for Ronaldo alone with their passes. Defender Rúben Dias came to his defense, saying that he is used to dealing with pressure. teraz.sk ↗

The tense atmosphere surrounding the team on social media is also under discussion, including fake quotes and fan attacks on the people close to teammates. The match against Uzbekistan will thus be Portugal's first chance to make amends after the stumble against DR Congo, and it could determine whether the debate over Ronaldo's role intensifies further. ta3.com ↗

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