Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the oldest outfield player to start a FIFA World Cup match at the age of 41, but his milestone was marred by Portugal's 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 tournament.

Ronaldo Achieves World Cup Milestone

On June 18, 2026, Ronaldo surpassed the previous record held by Canada's Atiba Hutchinson, who started at the 2022 World Cup at 39 years and 296 days old. Ronaldo's record now stands at 41 years and 132 days, marking a significant achievement in his illustrious career. This match also saw him join an elite group as only the second men's player to participate in six FIFA World Cups, matching Argentina's Lionel Messi.

Struggles on the Pitch

Despite the historic appearance, Ronaldo faced a challenging match against DR Congo. He recorded just 25 touches and failed to hit the target with any of his three attempts. His performance was further highlighted by winning only one duel, as the DR Congo defense effectively contained the all-time leading scorer for Portugal. This match represented the second-lowest touch count of his World Cup career when starting a game, indicating a lack of influence in Portugal's offensive efforts.

The match began positively for Portugal, with João Neves scoring the opening goal just six minutes in. However, as the game progressed, Portugal struggled to maintain control, allowing DR Congo to equalize and secure a historic point. The result extended Ronaldo's personal streak to ten consecutive matches without scoring in major international tournaments.