The Theatre of Dreams came a little short for Cristiano Ronaldo as he embarked on his record-breaking sixth World Cup campaign. In a clash that saw him become only the second player to appear in six World Cups – a testament to his awe-inspiring durability – Portugal stumbled to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in Houston.
The hosts' star-studded line-up, featuring Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, and Pedro Neto, couldn't quite fire on all cylinders against a DR Congo side that refused to back down. Joao Neves gave Portugal the perfect start with a thumping header in the sixth minute, but it was short-lived as Yoane Wissa's equaliser just before half-time turned the tables and handed DR Congo a historic first point at the World Cup finals.
Ronaldo, hungry for his record-breaking goal in a sixth edition of the tournament, struggled to make an impact. His best chance in the second half was a scuffed effort that barely troubled the DR Congo goalkeeper. With each passing minute, it seemed like Portugal's creative spark had fizzled out – a far cry from what fans expect when CR7 is on the pitch.
Portugal's head coach, Roberto Martinez, acknowledged that his team lost their attacking momentum after the opening goal and admitted that things became 'more difficult' thereafter. However, he was proud of the squad's commitment to their game plan, even if it didn't quite yield the desired results.
The draw comes on the heels of Lionel Messi's record-breaking hat-trick in Argentina's thumping victory over Algeria. Some pundits have questioned Portugal's performance, with Wayne Rooney calling for more energy and runners beyond Ronaldo. Gael Clichy chimed in, suggesting that Portugal's play may become 'unnatural' when Ronaldo is involved – as teammates instinctively look to feed him the ball.
DR Congo's head coach beamed with pride over his team's achievement, stating that they'd executed their game plan to perfection. Joao Neves was awarded Player of the Match, but some felt it should have gone to one of DR Congo's players for their collective effort in earning a vital point.
Ronaldo's appearance also marked another milestone – he became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match at 41 years and 132 days. Only Cameroon's Roger Milla, who featured in 1994, stands above him in this illustrious list.