World Cup underdogs bite back as Portugal held and Ronaldo faces backlash after lacklustre start

Favourites falter early

European champions Spain failed to score against debutants Cape Verde while Portugal were held 1-1 by the Democratic Republic of Congo, playing their first World Cup match since 1974. Belgium drew with Egypt and France needed a late intervention from Kylian Mbappé to overcome Senegal. The pattern suggests a narrowing of the gap between football's aristocracy and the rest.

“I do believe that the distance that separates the teams – when we look at the African teams, they're progressing, which is a good thing. We keep working on it.”

Portugal's stuttering start

Roberto Martinez's side took an early lead through João Neves's header in Houston but managed only one shot on target all game. Portugal have won just six of their 17 World Cup matches since finishing fourth in 2006, and the disjointed performance reignited doubts over their title credentials.

“I think it's more the mentality of getting rid of the weight on the shoulders of the players of wanting to win the World Cup.”

Ronaldo in the spotlight

The 41-year-old touched the ball 25 times, his lowest total in a full match at a major tournament, and failed to record a shot on target. The display drew unflattering comparisons with Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick for Argentina a day earlier.

Lionel Messi3

Kylian Mbappé2

Cristiano Ronaldo0

Lionel Messi

3

Kylian Mbappé

2

Cristiano Ronaldo

0

Data from the article text

Former France striker Thierry Henry pointed to a moment when Ronaldo intercepted a cut-back intended for Bruno Fernandes.

“The team needs to score, not you need to score.”

Ronaldo later wrote on social media: "It wasn't the start we wanted, but it's not over. Heads up and think about the next game."

A changing landscape

The expanded 48-team format was expected to dilute quality, yet nations once dismissed as peripheral now field players developed in Europe's top leagues. Compact defensive structures and purposeful counter-attacks have made it harder for favourites to turn possession into chances. Portugal completed 740 passes against Congo but created almost nothing of note.

Spain1

Portugal1

Belgium1

France3

Spain

1 pts

Portugal

1 pts

Belgium

1 pts

France

3 pts

Data from the article text

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw noted African teams' progress, pointing to Morocco's semi-final run in 2022 as a benchmark. The data from the opening round shows that Spain, Portugal and Belgium each took only a point, while France secured a narrow victory.

What comes next

Portugal face Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday, a match that already looks critical for confidence, before meeting Colombia on 27 June. Martinez must decide how to deploy Ronaldo, who has not scored in a major tournament since the 2022 World Cup opener and whose presence is increasingly seen by pundits as a tactical constraint. The coach defended his captain's selection but faces calls to adapt as the tournament progresses.