Chants of “Messi, Messi” rain on Ronaldo as Portugal star shoots point blank against DR Congo

Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating start to his 2026 World Cup campaign as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in Houston on Wednesday. Not only did the Portugal captain fail to find the net, he was also subjected to chants of rival Lionel Messi’s name by opposition supporters after the match.

The result was disappointing for Roberto Martinez’s side, who entered the tournament as one of the favorites and took an early lead through Joo Neves. However, Yoane Wiss’ equalizer before half-time secured DR Congo a historic point against the European giants.

PORTUGAL VS DR CONGO, FIFA WORLD CUP: HIGHLIGHTS

WATCH THE VIDEO:

It was another difficult outing in front of goal for Ronaldo. The 41-year-old managed just two shots off target and had just 25 touches during the competition Portugal tried to change its superiority in possession to meaningful chances. Ronaldo failed to score in pre-World Cup warm-ups against Chile and Nigeria and is now without a goal in 10 games at major tournaments stretching back to Euro 2024.

Despite the result and the chants directed at him, Ronaldo seemed undeterred. Videos circulating widely on social media showed DR Congo supporters chanting “Messi, Messi” as the Portugal captain walked off the pitch after being recognized by the fans.

Instead of reacting, Ronaldo continued to walk towards the tunnel and was later seen giving a warm hug to a DR Congo supporter who stormed the pitch, earning praise online for his composed response.

RONALDO, MESSI CONTRAST DAY ONE

The chants received particular attention because of what happened elsewhere at the World Cup just 24 hours earlier.

While Ronaldo struggled to influence proceedings against DR Congo, Messi produced another masterclass for Argentina. Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored a hat trick in Argentina’s 3–0 win over Algeria, equaling Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record of 16 goals and becoming the oldest player to score a hat-trick at the World Cup.

The contrast between these two icons became one of the defining stories of the tournament’s opening week.

At the previous World Cup in Qatar, their paths also diverged dramatically. Ronaldo scored in the opening match of Portugal’s group stage, but failed to find the net in the following two matches and was eventually dropped by then-coach Fernando Santos during the knockout stages. Portugal’s campaign ended with a quarter-final defeat to Morocco.

Messi, meanwhile, enjoyed one of the greatest World Cup campaigns in football history. The Argentine scored seven goals and added three assists as Argentina lifted the trophy for the third time. He found the net in every knockout game, including twice in the final against France, and won a record second Ballon d’Or.

Four years later, Messi continues to add to his legacy, while Ronaldo remains in pursuit of another major moment. The Portugal captain arrived in the United States hoping to become the first player to score in six different World Cups. That wait will continue for at least one more game when Portugal take on World Cup debutants Uzbekistan in their second Group K game.

Football World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | football news

– The end

Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

18 Jun 2026 04:56 IST