World Cup 2026 Player of the Day - Day 13: Cristiano Ronaldo finally makes his mark
Ben McAleer
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal made a disappointing start to the 2026 World Cup as they were held to a 1-1 draw with DR Congo. It was a match in which Ronaldo failed to make his mark at the tournament.
Many expected another sub-par tournament performance from the 41-year-old. Ronaldo failed to score at Euro 2024 as Portugal crashed out at the quarter-final stage in Germany. However, he ensured there was no chance of a repeat in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan on Tuesday.
The experienced forward scored his nation’s first with just six minutes on the clock in Houston to become the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments. He added his second shortly before the break in a rampant Portugal performance to get their World Cup campaign up and running.
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Admittedly, Ronaldo should have had a hat-trick in the resounding victory over Uzbekistan having fired off as many shots as the White Wolves (7) in Portugal’s five-star showing. Even so, this was a return to form for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid man.
And next up for Ronaldo and Portugal is a meeting with Group K leaders Colombia. The winner will determine who progresses to the next round as group winners. The South American nation needs only to avoid defeat to secure top spot following a 1-0 win over DR Congo, Daniel Munoz’s 74th-minute effort enough to separate the two teams.
Regardless of the calibre of opposition, Portugal required their captain to get up and running in the European side’s push to win the World Cup for the first time. He did so in style at the expense of the tournament debutants.
READ MORE: What Date and Time do the World Cup 2026 Group Stage Matches Kick Off?
