Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup return with Portugal began with frustration, more missed chances and another reminder that his scoring record on the biggest stage has gone quiet.
Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their 2026 opener, a result that immediately raised pressure around Roberto Martinez’s attack.
Ronaldo played the full match, but could not turn Portugal’s possession into the goal that would have changed the story of the night. The question now is how long it has been since he last found the net at a World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo last scored at a World Cup against Ghana in 2022
Ronaldo’s most recent World Cup goal came on November 24, 2022, when he scored from the penalty spot in Portugal’s 3-2 group-stage win over Ghana in Qatar.
That goal arrived in the 65th minute and was historically significant because it made Ronaldo the first male player to score in five different World Cups. At the time, it looked like another landmark in a tournament career defined by longevity and records.
Since then, however, the goals have stopped. Ronaldo failed to score in Portugal’s remaining 2022 World Cup matches against Uruguay, South Korea, Switzerland and Morocco, then drew another blank against DR Congo in the 2026 opener.
That means he has now gone five straight World Cup appearances without scoring for Portugal. For a player whose international legacy has been built on decisive moments, the drought is becoming harder to ignore.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s drought grows after Portugal draw with DR Congo
The DR Congo match made the concern sharper because Portugal had enough control to win, but not enough precision in the final third to turn pressure into a second goal.
Portugal went ahead early through Joao Neves, only for Yoane Wissa to equalize before halftime. Ronaldo had opportunities after the break, but finished the night without a goal and without the finish Portugal needed to avoid dropping points.
There is still time for Ronaldo to change the tone of his tournament, and Portugal still have enough quality to recover from the opening draw.
But the longer the drought runs, the more every miss will be measured against the question of whether Portugal are still getting the best version of their captain.
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