Cristiano Ronaldo came under fire from some fans after Portugal were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite fielding a star-studded lineup featuring Ronaldo, João Neves, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, Portugal failed to secure all three points against a DR Congo side many had tipped as underdogs ahead of the Group K clash.

Portugal took the lead through Neves, but DR Congo responded with an equaliser from Yoane Wissa to earn what many observers described as a historic result. The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, handing Portugal an unexpected setback in their quest for World Cup glory.

While the result itself sparked debate, much of the post-match discussion centered on Ronaldo's performance. The 41-year-old captain struggled to make a significant impact in attack, prompting criticism from some supporters on social media.

One X user wrote: "To all @Cristiano fans, I understand why you think he is a magician. He has the ability to magically be invisible throughout entire matches. The invisible man strikes again!"

Another questioned Ronaldo's role in the squad, writing: "Portugal is a favorite in this tournament but unfortunately Ronaldo's ego will be a detriment to the squad. He would be ideal coming off the bench. It's a hard truth to swallow for all the Ronaldo fans, but his best days are in the distant past."

The criticism comes as Ronaldo continues to defy expectations late in his career. The Portuguese superstar has repeatedly spoken about maintaining peak physical condition and has not ruled out the possibility of representing his country at the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

However, following Portugal's underwhelming opener, some fans have begun questioning whether the all-time leading goalscorer should continue to start matches for the national team.

Portugal will now look to bounce back in their next Group K fixture as pressure mounts on Roberto Martínez's side to deliver a stronger performance and justify their status as one of the tournament favorites.