Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday morning found himself under scrutiny after Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match. The result led to questions around the 41-year-old forward’s performance and overall impact on the game.
As reactions poured in on the internet, the attention shifted once again to Indian cricket star Virat Kohli’s long-standing backing of Ronaldo, with his previous comments about the Portuguese icon being widely shared on social media.
Portugal failed to take control of their opening fixture, with Ronaldo unable to make a decisive impact as the match ended in a draw against Congo. The result quickly fuelled debate among fans and sports pundits over Portugal’s attacking approach and Ronaldo’s role in the squad at this stage of his career.
Despite his record as one of international football’s highest goal scorers, the performance added to ongoing scrutiny of his consistency in major tournaments.
Virat Kohli has repeatedly spoken in support of Cristiano Ronaldo over the years, praising his professionalism, fitness and longevity in elite sport. One of Kohli’s widely circulated remarks came after Ronaldo’s strong performances in club football, where the Indian batter defended him against criticism and highlighted the forward’s continued ability to perform at the highest level. Kohli has consistently emphasised that short-term form should not overshadow long-term impact, pointing to Ronaldo’s sustained excellence across nearly two decades.
While the recent match has intensified discussion around Ronaldo’s current role, his overall career record continues to remain one of the strongest in world football. From Manchester United to Real Madrid, Juventus and Al Nassr, Ronaldo has maintained elite-level output, along with a record-breaking international goal tally for Portugal.
Supporters argue that his experience and leadership remain valuable, even as questions persist about his physical demands at 41.
Before the start of the tournament, the expectations were high for Ronaldo’s Portugal. But their poor show against DR Congo has made fans more worried about their and it also put early pressure on Portugal in the tournament. Whether Ronaldo continues as the focal point of their attack remains a key talking point as the team prepares for its next group-stage fixtures.