World Cup: Portugal Draw with Congo, Ronaldo Goalless; England Beat Croatia with Kane Brace
Image Source: Indian Express
The 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered contrasting fortunes for two of football's most recognisable figures as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by Congo and England opened their campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia. Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating evening in front of goal, while Harry Kane scored twice—including a retaken penalty—to equal Gary Lineker's all-time England World Cup record.
In Portugal's Group L fixture, Joao Neves gave the European side an early lead in the sixth minute, but Congo's Yoane Wisse equalised before half-time. Ronaldo, playing in his record 229th international match, managed only two shots—both in the second half and both off target—as Portugal struggled to break down a determined Congolese defence. The result leaves Portugal with a point, but questions about Ronaldo's form persist.
After the match, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended his decision to keep Ronaldo on the pitch. "It makes no sense to take off the best scorer in the world when you need goals," Martinez said. "Cristiano's experience in the box is important. The way he attracts defenders is important." He added that the team treats every player the same way, assessing fitness and form on a step-by-step basis without focusing on age. Ronaldo, who did not speak to the media, later posted on social media: "It wasn't the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Head up and focus on the next game."
Meanwhile, in Arlington, Texas, England captain Harry Kane capitalised on a rare second chance to open his account. After Croatia's Luka Modric was penalised for a careless kick inside the area, Kane's initial penalty was saved by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. However, a VAR review ruled that Livakovic had moved off his goal line before the kick, and Kane calmly converted the retake. He later added a headed goal, and further strikes from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford secured the win, despite Croatia responses from Petar Musa and Martin Baturina.
Kane's brace brought his World Cup tally to 10 goals, matching the England record set by Gary Lineker across the 1986 and 1990 tournaments. Kane, who won the Golden Boot in 2018, became the first English player to score multiple goals in three separate World Cup appearances. He now has 81 international goals in total.
The results set the stage for an intriguing group phase, with Portugal looking to rediscover their fluency and England seeking to build on a confident start. For Ronaldo, the focus will be on finding form before Portugal's next matches against Uzbekistan and Colombia, while Kane will aim to eclipse Lineker's longstanding record.
