‘The straight line is not the quickest’

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez says Cristiano Ronaldo was “vital” in his aspect’s opening match of the World Cup 2026 regardless of the striker solely touching the ball 25 occasions within the draw with DR Congo.

Captain Ronaldo had his second-fewest touches ever in a World Cup match, solely taking possession much less in a 1-0 win over the Netherlands in 2006 in a last-16 match that includes 4 pink playing cards.

“It is not sensible to substitute the perfect goalscorer in world soccer in a recreation once you want targets,” mentioned Martinez, who noticed Ronaldo full 90 minutes for his nation for the primary time since November 2025 however go a fourth worldwide with no purpose.

“Clearly, once you search for targets, it’s good to have Cristiano on the pitch.”

World Cup 2026: Portugal vs Dr Congo ‘troublesome’

Ronaldo is his nation’s record 143-goal scorer however has not netted in his final 5 matches on the World Cup and has one purpose in eight video games on the finals.

After Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves headed Portugal in entrance within the sixth minute in Houston, Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa adopted swimsuit for DR Congo throughout first-half added time to earn The Leopards their first-ever level on the finals.

Martinez despatched on Francisco Conceicao for Bernardo Silva at half-time and made second-half attacking adjustments by bringing on Rafael Leao and Goncalo Ramos for Pedro Neto and Vitinha.

“We have been discovering it troublesome to get into the field,” mentioned Martinez. “Congo had a again 5 that, at occasions, was even a again six.

“You should utilize the qualities of Cristiano Ronaldo [in that situation]. What we would have liked was so as to add Goncalo Ramos with out doing it in a approach that it could change into much more [of] a troublesome [forward] line [tactically].

“As you understand in soccer, the straight line will not be the quickest approach. For us, in moments like this, the expertise of Cristiano within the field is vital.

“The best way he attracts defenders is vital, the best way we will use the areas is vital and each participant has a duty or a bit of high quality on the pitch.”

World Cup 2026: Ronaldo, Ramos ‘want self-discipline’

Joao Cancelo had a purpose from an overhead kick appropriately disallowed for offside throughout a second half during which the wideman and Bruno Fernandes went shut and Ronaldo, whose aerial prowess has been a characteristic of his glittering profession, had two possibilities.

Portugal had greater than 75% of possession and one try on course, with DR Congo trying the likelier winners late on.

“In our recreation construction, the striker must have a variety of self-discipline,” mentioned Martinez. “A variety of self-discipline means staying on the line of defense, behind the centre-backs, opening up areas.

“After the primary purpose, we didn’t attain the ultimate third on the stage we want to have the ability to present service to the striker or to have the ability to utilise the actions of the striker.

“There are facets we have to enhance however the self-discipline of the gamers was very demanding. Now it’s the side of having the ability to utilise all of the gamers on the pitch: the striker must be near the purpose, however we have to search for the areas and arrive with the ball in that place.

“Within the second half, with the introduction of Chico Conceicao, we reached the ultimate third a bit bit extra. The house within the line of defense was beginning to open up extra, and it was the time to utilise Goncalo.

“We had Bruno Fernandes in positions of arriving late. It’s about utilising the gamers we’ve on the proper moments.”

Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal ‘assess each participant’

The oldest outfield participant on the finals at 41, Ronaldo had began in every of Portugal’s earlier 18 matches on the finals earlier than he got here on as a second-half substitute throughout the last-16 win over Switzerland and quarter-final defeat to Morocco on the 2022 version.

Martinez steered the Al-Nassr skipper won’t be given particular remedy if his situation seems to wane.

“We deal with each participant in the identical approach,” defined Martinez. “We go step-by-step, we analyse daily. I’ve to evaluate each participant.

“It will be significant that everyone is 100% however… we don’t deal with Cristiano with an age, with a quantity. We deal with Cristiano [according to] his signs, how he feels and with the facets he provides on the pitch.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal World Cup 2026 schedule

Portugal are subsequent in motion in opposition to Uzbekistan, who misplaced their opener 3-1 to Colombia on Thursday, on June 23 at 18:00 BST.

Right here’s how their schedule appears to be like and their potential subsequent fixtures, in addition to tips on how to watch within the UK.