Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has come under criticism following his performance in his side’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo in the FIFA World Cup. Among those questioning the veteran forward was France and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who felt Ronaldo’s desire to score affected Portugal’s attacking play.
Despite making history by becoming the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, Ronaldo struggled to make an impact during the Group K clash in Houston.
Thierry Henry points to one key moment
Speaking on the FOX Sports panel after the match, Henry highlighted a specific attacking move involving Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes.
According to the former French striker, Ronaldo made the wrong run by moving into Fernandes’ shooting lane instead of creating space inside the penalty area.
Henry explained that the team’s priority should always be scoring, regardless of who gets the goal.
He said, “The team needs to score, not you need to score.”
The former Arsenal forward added that if Ronaldo had continued his run toward the six-yard box, he would have forced the defender to follow him, leaving Bruno Fernandes with a simple finish.
Instead, Henry believed Ronaldo’s movement made defending easier for DR Congo and reduced Portugal’s chances of scoring.
Bruno Fernandes appeared frustrated
The incident also appeared to frustrate Bruno Fernandes during the match.
Television cameras showed the Manchester United midfielder reacting after Ronaldo moved into his path before taking a shot that went wide of the goal.
Henry suggested Fernandes expected Ronaldo to continue his run and create space rather than attempt the finish himself.
Ronaldo’s historic appearance ends in disappointment
Although the result was disappointing, Ronaldo still reached another major milestone in his remarkable career.
At 41 years and 123 days, he became the oldest outfield player ever to start a FIFA World Cup match.
He also joined Lionel Messi as one of only two footballers to feature in six FIFA World Cups.
However, the statistics from the game reflected a quiet performance. Ronaldo managed just 25 touches, the second-lowest total of his World Cup career when starting a match.
Comparisons with Messi and Mbappé grow stronger
Ronaldo’s performance inevitably drew comparisons with other football superstars who made impressive starts to the tournament.
Lionel Messi opened Argentina’s campaign with a hat-trick against Algeria, while Kylian Mbappé scored twice in France’s victory over Senegal.
As both players found the net, Ronaldo’s scoreless display attracted additional scrutiny from fans and football experts.
Chris Sutton also questions Roberto Martinez
Former England striker Chris Sutton also criticised Portugal manager Roberto Martinez following the draw.
Posting on X, Sutton argued that Ronaldo should have been substituted during the match.
He claimed Martinez appeared reluctant to replace his captain, suggesting the coach was worried about upsetting the veteran forward.
According to Sutton, Portugal would have benefited from making changes earlier in the game.
Portugal look to bounce back
Portugal now face Uzbekistan in their second Group K fixture before taking on Colombia in their final group-stage match.
The team will need a stronger performance if they hope to progress comfortably to the knockout rounds.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo will be eager to silence his critics by delivering the kind of display that has defined much of his legendary international career.