Martinez Backs Ronaldo Despite Portugal’s Frustrating World Cup Opener

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has dismissed concerns over Cristiano Ronaldo's role in the national team following a surprising 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their Group K opener at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Portugal made a strong start when midfielder João Neves found the net early in the contest, giving the European side the advantage. However, DR Congo gradually settled into the game and leveled the score before halftime through Yoane Wissa, earning a historic result for the African nation.

Much of the post-match discussion focused on Ronaldo, who completed the full 90 minutes but failed to score or significantly influence the attack. Questions were raised about whether Portugal should have substituted the 41-year-old forward as they searched for a winning goal.

Martinez, however, stood firmly behind his captain. The Portuguese coach emphasized that Ronaldo remains one of football’s most reliable goal scorers and argued that removing him during a match where Portugal needed a breakthrough would not have been the right decision.

The coach also acknowledged that Portugal struggled to maintain intensity after taking the lead and admitted the team must be more clinical in future matches. Despite dropping points, Martinez expressed confidence that Portugal can recover and secure qualification from Group K in their upcoming fixtures.

For DR Congo, the draw represented a major achievement, earning the nation its first World Cup point in decades and boosting confidence ahead of the remainder of the group stage.