DON'T MISS ANY ACTION FROM THE WORLD CUP

No 'special tactics' required for Cristiano Ronaldo as DR Congo star says CR7 'is not the same anymore' after Portugal’s shock draw in 2026 World Cup opener

DR Congo midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau has offered a candid evaluation of Cristiano Ronaldo’s present form, claiming that the Portuguese legend no longer demands special tactical attention. His forthright remarks followed a dramatic 1-1 draw between the two sides in their 2026 World Cup opener.

Mukau questions Ronaldo’s intimidation factor

Portugal’s bid to begin their 2026 World Cup campaign with a win faltered in Houston, but it was the post-match comments from the DR Congo camp that truly captured attention. Lille midfielder Mukau was asked whether his team had prepared a 'special plan' to contain the Al-Nassr forward. His response implied that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner no longer instils the same fear among defenders as he once did.

The 21-year-old spoke with striking honesty about the Portuguese captain, saying: “To be honest, not really, because we know he isn’t the same as before. He’s a bit older now, but he’s still one of the best to ever play the game. When you get older, it’s not the same – you can’t make the same efforts.” Mukau’s statement reflected the events on the field, as DR Congo’s disciplined defensive setup effectively neutralised the legendary number seven.

Statistics underline Ronaldo’s current struggles

Although Ronaldo made history by becoming the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match at 41, his overall impact on the game was limited. Despite completing the full 90 minutes, he found it difficult to make a decisive impression against a physically imposing DR Congo team that showed no fear of his reputation.

The statistics supported Mukau’s observation. Ronaldo managed only 25 touches throughout the match – his lowest tally in a major tournament game in which he played the entire duration. Additionally, his goalless outing in Houston extended an unwanted streak: he has now gone 10 consecutive matches without scoring across both the World Cup and European Championships, a drought that covers 33 attempts on goal.

Roberto Martinez stands by his captain

Despite mounting criticism and a subdued performance, Portugal manager Roberto Martinez was quick to defend his star forward. The Spanish coach decided to keep Ronaldo on for the full match, even as his side struggled to produce clear scoring chances against the determined African outfit.

Martinez explained that substituting his captain was never under consideration, stating: “It makes no sense to get the best goalscorer in world football out in a game that you need goals. For us in moments like this, the experience of Cristiano in the box is important. The way that he attracts defenders is important, the way that we can use the space is important. And every player has a responsibility or a piece of quality on the pitch. And clearly when you look for goals, you need to have Cristiano.”

Portugal face a tough route ahead

The 1-1 draw is a setback for Portugal’s hopes of finishing atop Group K, with challenging fixtures against Uzbekistan and Colombia still to come. Joao Neves had put the Selecao ahead early on, but Yoane Wissa’s equalising header secured DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup point.

Can Portugal recover and make a deep run at the 2026 World Cup?