Ronaldo silent, skips interviews after Portugal's draw in World Cup qualifier

Cristiano Ronaldo remained silent and scoreless in Portugal's opening 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo. The star forward, who plays for Al Nassr, not only failed to find the back of the net but also reportedly bypassed media interviews in the mixed zone after the match.

Portugal's performance in Houston, Texas, started promisingly with an early goal in the sixth minute. However, the team was unable to maintain its lead, ultimately settling for a draw in their first match of the qualifying campaign. This result has cast a shadow over the team's ambitions for the upcoming World Cup.

The incident has added to the narrative surrounding Ronaldo and the Portuguese national team as they embark on their journey to qualify for the global tournament. The team will need to regroup and address any internal issues to ensure a successful qualification campaign.