Opinions, analysis and commentary
Roberto Martinez has been asked repeatedly whether he’s too loyal to Cristiano Ronaldo to make the hard call. That’s the sentiment framing. The structural question is more useful: Ronaldo finished the DR Congo match with 25 touches, his involvement condensed into isolated pockets on the left, the exact zone Pedro Neto and Nuno Mendes are meant to occupy. The spacing problem is real, and the data from that game makes it harder to dismiss than Martinez’s post-match defense suggested.
Portugal took the lead in the sixth minute through Joao Neves, who headed in a Pedro Neto cross after completing 84 passes to DR Congo’s 12 in the build-up phase. Despite 80% first-half possession, Portugal managed just 2 shots worth 0.07 xG before the break, while DR Congo generated 6 shots worth 0.14 xG in the same period.
Yoane Wissa’s equalizer, just before halftime, came from a short-corner routine: Masuaku’s delivery finding Wissa unmarked at the near post, a marking lapse at a dead-ball situation. No verified source connects the goal to Ronaldo’s positioning or Portugal’s wide shape. But low shot quality and limited central penetration against a settled low block tells its own story.
| Portugal | DR Congo | |
| 1st-half shots | 2 | 6 |
| 1st-half xG | 0.07 | 0.14 |
| 2nd-half shots* | 5 | 2 |
| 2nd-half xG* | 0.57 | 0.68 |
| Full-match shots | 7 | 8 |
| Full-match xG | 0.64 | 0.82 |
*Second-half figures calculated: full-match totals (Opta Analyst) minus first-half totals (Sofascore). No source published a direct second-half breakdown.
Martinez has generally deployed a possession-based 4-3-3, with Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva given license to drift wide and overload defensive lines. Against DR Congo, Ronaldo played all 90 minutes and registered 3 shot attempts without one on target, extending his scoreless run in major tournaments to ten straight matches.
Martinez defended the selection afterward, saying the team chasing goals needs Ronaldo on the pitch and that service quality is a shared responsibility. The setup question centers on spacing patterns broadly, but the heatmap data points directly at an overlap problem that Martinez declined to address.
Ronaldo’s touches against DR Congo clustered on the left side, per Sky Sports’ verified positional data, occupying the same zone Neto and Mendes are built to exploit. With three players crowding overlapping space, central progression for Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha narrowed, and DR Congo’s compact block had fewer passing lanes to defend.
This doesn’t explain Wissa’s equalizer, which came from a set-piece marking lapse. It does help explain why Portugal’s full-match xG of 0.64 trailed a side ranked 56th in the world, and why so much of their attack funneled through static buildup rather than quick combinations. A 4-3-3 designed around width needs its wide zones to be clear.
The clearest comparison is a full absence, not a substitution. Ronaldo missed Portugal’s March friendlies against Mexico and the United States with a hamstring injury. Without him, Portugal drew 0-0 with Mexico while hitting the post through Goncalo Ramos, then beat the United States 2-0 in Atlanta with goals from Francisco Trincao and substitute Joao Felix.
The pre-tournament friendlies offer partial data. Ronaldo started both the Chile win and the Nigeria win but was withdrawn at halftime and in the 65th minute, respectively, with Portugal scoring after his departure each time. Their attack doesn’t collapse in his absence, and at times finds a faster tempo once he leaves.
Martinez hasn’t hinted at a benching, telling reporters it makes no sense to remove the best goalscorer in world football. Tony Cascarino accused him of prioritizing his relationship with Ronaldo over results, while Thierry Henry framed it as a discipline issue, arguing the team needs goals more than a personal record chase.
Portugal faces Uzbekistan, debutants ranked 50th in the world, on June 23 in Houston. The structural argument quiets if Portugal produces a fluid performance against a side that will defend deep, and gets louder if the same spacing issues appear. The Portugal Ronaldo FIFA World Cup 2026 question won’t be settled by one result against Uzbekistan; it’ll follow this squad into every knockout match that follows.
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Did Ronaldo score against DR Congo?
Ronaldo played all 90 minutes but failed to register a shot on target, extending his scoreless run in major tournaments to ten consecutive matches. He finished with 25 touches and three attempts, none on target.
How many World Cups has Ronaldo played in?
The 2026 tournament is Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup, following 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022, matching Lionel Messi’s record. He is the only player alongside Messi to appear at six editions.
Who scored in the Portugal vs DR Congo match?
Joao Neves opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a header from a Pedro Neto cross, before Yoane Wissa equalized just before halftime. Wissa’s goal came from a short-corner routine, with Masuaku’s delivery finding him unmarked at the near post.
What formation does Portugal use at this tournament?
Roberto Martinez favors a possession-based 4-3-3, with Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva given freedom to drift wide and overload defensive lines. He occasionally shifts to a 4-2-3-1 depending on the opponent.
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