Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest for World Cup glory began on a frustrating note as DR Congo earned a historic World Cup point with a determined 1-1 draw against Portugal in their opening Group K match on Wednesday.
The result marked a significant milestone for the Congolese side, who are competing in the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the nation participated under the name Zaire.
Their spirited display ensured they left the pitch with their first-ever point in World Cup history.
Portugal appeared set for a comfortable victory after taking an early lead through Joao Neves. The midfielder powered a header into the net in the sixth minute after connecting with a well-delivered cross from Pedro Neto.
The European side controlled possession for large periods of the first half and looked capable of extending their advantage. However, despite their dominance on the ball, Portugal struggled to convert opportunities into goals.
DR Congo gradually grew into the contest and found their reward deep into first-half stoppage time.
Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa rose highest inside the penalty area to head home the equaliser, sending Congolese supporters into wild celebrations.
The goal was historic, becoming DR Congo’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup finals tournament. Players, coaching staff, and fans celebrated passionately as the underdogs stunned one of the competition’s traditional heavyweights.
The achievement was made even more remarkable by the difficult circumstances surrounding the team’s preparations. Reports indicated that concerns over an Ebola outbreak in DR Congo had disrupted preparations ahead of the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo, making his sixth World Cup appearance at the age of 41, struggled to influence proceedings. The Portuguese captain found himself largely isolated and was unable to replicate the impact made by Lionel Messi, who grabbed headlines a day earlier with a hat-trick for Argentina.
Portugal thought they had regained the lead in the second half when Joao Cancelo produced an impressive overhead kick that found the net. However, celebrations were cut short after the goal was ruled out for offside following a review.
The African side continued to threaten on the counterattack and nearly completed a famous turnaround. Veteran striker Cedric Bakambu shrugged off pressure from Bruno Fernandes before firing a shot that struck the near post.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez made tactical changes in search of a winner, introducing fresh attacking options. Francisco Conceicao brought greater urgency to Portugal’s attack and twice created clear opportunities for Ronaldo.
The first chance saw Conceicao pick out Ronaldo inside the box, but the veteran forward sent his effort wide of the post. Minutes later, the pair combined again with a similar outcome as Ronaldo failed to hit the target.
As the final whistle approached, frustration grew among the Portuguese players. Conceicao’s disappointment was evident when Portugal were denied what they believed should have been a corner kick, leading to visible reactions on the pitch.
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For DR Congo, however, the final whistle sparked celebrations. Securing a point against one of Europe’s strongest teams represented a historic achievement and provided a major boost to their hopes of progressing from Group K.
The draw leaves both teams with work to do in the remaining group matches, but the story of the day belonged to the Congolese side.
By earning their first-ever World Cup point, DR Congo announced themselves on football’s biggest stage and delivered one of the early surprises of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
