Portugal vs DR Congo: Portugal Held to 1-1 Draw by DR Congo Despite Ronaldo Making History as Oldest Outfield Starter

João Neves put Portugal ahead early, but Yoane Wissa equalised on the stroke of halftime as the African side earned a deserved point, with Cristiano Ronaldo becoming the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match

Portugal opened their World Cup campaign with a frustrating 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo at NRG Stadium in Houston, as Roberto Martínez’s side dominated possession but failed to break down a disciplined African defence.

Portugal started with high intensity and took the lead in the sixth minute. João Neves headed home from a precise Pedro Neto delivery, putting the Seleção ahead early.

Despite Portugal holding onto the ball for long stretches, DR Congo organised into a compact 5-3-2 defensive setup and threatened on the counter. Five minutes into first-half stoppage time, Yoane Wissa met Arthur Masuaku’s cross to stun the Portuguese favourites with a powerful header that sent the Congolese supporters into celebration.

The second half saw Portugal dominate possession with a staggering 75 percent, but they struggled to break through the solid Congolese defence. Cristiano Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes but faced a deeply isolating night, recording very few touches inside the opposition box.

Portugal completed 721 passes with 93 percent accuracy compared to DR Congo’s 180 passes at 81 percent. However, the African side matched Portugal in efficiency, registering three shots on target from eight attempts to Portugal’s two from nine.

At 41 years and 132 days old, Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to ever start a World Cup match. He also joined Lionel Messi as the only men in football history to feature in six different World Cup tournaments.

According to a report by Accra Street Journal, the match marked DR Congo’s historic return to the world stage after 52 years. Their only previous World Cup appearance was in 1974, when they competed as Zaire. The fixture was the first-ever senior international match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Portugal remains unbeaten against sub-Saharan African nations at the World Cup, with three wins and two draws.

For Portugal, the result is a setback in a group that also features Colombia and Uzbekistan. For DR Congo, the point represents a major achievement and a statement of intent on their return to the global stage.

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Predictable Lineups – Bef0re Kick0ff

• • Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Tomás Araújo, Rúben Dias, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva; Bruno Fernandes, João Félix, Cristiano Ronaldo.
  • DR Congo (4-2-3-1): Lionel Mpasi; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku; Samuel Moutoussamy, Noah Sadiki; Meschack Elia, Nathanaël Mbuku, Yoane Wissa; Cédric Bakambu.

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Last Updated on June 17, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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