Cristiano Ronaldo Sent Brutal Reminder After Listless World Cup Show: 'The Team Has To Score, Not You'

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal did not get the start they had hoped for in their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign. The Democratic Republic of Congo, playing their first World Cup match in more than 50 years, held Portugal to a 1-1 draw in Houston on Wednesday, with Ronaldo coming under scrutiny for an underwhelming performance.

Portugal started on the front foot, with Joao Neves putting them 1-0 ahead as early as the sixth minute. However, Yoane Wissa’s header cancelled out the opener, and the star-studded Portuguese side failed to find the back of the net again in a disappointing display.

Ronaldo, who equalled Lionel Messi’s record of appearing in six FIFA World Cup tournaments, endured a forgettable outing as he squandered a couple of good opportunities

to get on the scoresheet.

Within the space of a few minutes, teammate Francisco Conceicao twice set up Ronaldo – 68th minute and 73rd minute – with promising chances. On both occasions, however, the 41-year-old sent his efforts wide of the target.

French great Thierry Henry, without directly naming Ronaldo, stressed the importance of prioritising the team’s success over individual milestones.

“One thing that’s important, people, please at home, the team needs to score. (It’s) Not you (that) needs to score,” Henry said on Fox Sports. “Because Ronaldo wants to score, he goes in the path of the back pass, you see both players and it’s easier for you to defend. If he had gone to the six-yard box, Bruno Fernandes would have a tap in.”

“And that’s my thing: The team needs to score. Not you,” he added.

Thierry Henry on Ronaldo: “The team needs to score. Not YOU need to score.”#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/RS1xYorFFk

— Eric Njiru ⚽️ (@EricNjiiru) June 17, 2026

The performance was another reminder that Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and one of football’s all-time greats, may be past his prime. In fact, he has now gone 10 consecutive matches in major tournaments without scoring.

Portugal will next face Uzbekistan on June 23.