Portugal-DR Congo: the improbable drought hitting Cristiano Ronaldo before his match against the Leopards at the 2026 World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo enters his sixth World Cup with a drought of nine games without a goal in major competitions. His last goal in a major tournament was a penalty against Ghana at the 2022 World Cup. Portugal faces DR Congo in Houston on Wednesday for their opening match. The 41-year-old, with 143 goals in 228 caps, faces doubts about his impact.