Cristiano Ronaldo spoke out in defense of Portugal‘s showing in their World Cup opener against Congo DR, while casting his gaze toward their upcoming match.
Despite having a strong hold on possession, Portugal managed only one shot on target during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw in Houston.
“Nothing was missing,” Ronaldo, 41, stated to the media following the match. “That’s football. Portugal could have won, but they could also have lost.”
Ronaldo, who joined Lionel Messi as one of the only players to have made appearances in six World Cups, played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday. Unlike Messi, who kicked off the tournament with a hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory against Algeria, Ronaldo had a quieter evening, with all three of his attempts going off-target.
“It wasn’t the start we aimed for, but this isn’t over yet,” Ronaldo shared on Instagram. He has not netted a non-penalty goal in a significant international event since June 19, 2021. “We need to stay positive and prepare for the next game.”
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João Félix, Ronaldo’s teammate at Al Nassr, expressed he was not surprised by Congo DR’s impressive performance as they secured their first-ever World Cup point.
“The first match is always unpredictable,” João Félix noted. “Even against what may be perceived as a weaker team, they are representing their nation. For them, this tournament is a dream, just as it is for us. They always put in that extra effort.”
João Félix, who recently bested Ronaldo to secure the Saudi Pro League‘s player of the season award, remains optimistic that Portugal will bounce back in the tournament. The team is set to face Uzbekistan on Tuesday in Houston before their final Group K match against Colombia on June 27.
“We will surely improve,” João Félix assured. “It’s all about identifying our shortcomings and rectifying them for the next game so we can secure a win.”