Cristiano Ronaldo is 41 years old. He is playing in his sixth World Cup. This is most likely his last shot at the one trophy that has eluded him across more than two decades at the top of the sport. Today, in Houston, Ronaldo’s quest for glory will officially begin.
Cristiano Ronaldo Will Be Playing vs. DR Congo
Portugal opens its 2026 World Cup campaign against DR Congo this afternoon in Group K, which also includes Colombia and Uzbekistan. Roberto Martinez’s side enters as heavy favorites, ranked fifth in the world and fresh off back-to-back UEFA Nations League titles.
DR Congo is making just its second World Cup appearance in history, and its first since competing as Zaire back in 1974. On paper, it’s clear that Portugal are the better team, thanks to the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and Nuno Mendes.
Ronaldo is expected to start today’s game, alongside Rafael Leão and Francisco Conceição. The Al-Nassr striker has proven to be Portugal’s main scoring option inside the box, even at 41.
Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has recovered enough to be included after battling a hamstring issue late in the club season, easing what looked like a concerning team news situation heading into the tournament. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET at Houston Stadium, with the match airing on FOX.
The pressure on Ronaldo this tournament is unlike anything he has faced before. He won the European Championship in 2016 and the Nations League twice, in 2019 and 2025. But there have been constant questions about his legacy, given his shortcomings on the FIFA World Cup stage.
The questions around Ronaldo’s form have not disappeared just because the moment is historic. In Portugal’s pre-World Cup friendly win over Nigeria, he missed several clear chances. But his teammates stepped up to seal a 2-1 win.
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Fernandes and Bernardo Silva have handled most of the creative duties this year, and Portugal’s midfield, anchored by Joao Neves and Vitinha, gives Roberto Martinez plenty of cover even if his captain has a quiet afternoon.
DR Congo, led by Sebastien Desabre, arrives with real confidence after a difficult qualifying run that included seven wins and a tense victory over Jamaica to punch their ticket.
Although Portugal looks to be the better side on paper, upsets happen in the World Cup, and DR Congo has shown enough scoring punch in recent matches to make this less of a formality than the form suggests.
