Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest World Cup opener gives Portugal more than a group-stage starting point. It also gives one of soccer’s most durable forwards a chance to reach a milestone no men’s player has previously managed: scoring at six different FIFA World Cups.
Portugal face Congo DR in Houston on Wednesday, with kick-off listed at 1 p.m. ET. The match is part of a June 17 World Cup slate that also includes England vs Croatia, Ghana vs Panama and Uzbekistan vs Colombia, according to the published match schedule carried by the Associated Press and FIFA’s official tournament match centre.
What record can Ronaldo set?
Ronaldo, now 41, has scored at every World Cup he has played since 2006. That run covers five tournaments, and a goal against Congo DR would extend it to six. The AP report notes that Lionel Messi opened his own sixth World Cup for Argentina one day earlier, but Messi did not score in the 2010 edition, while Ronaldo has found the net in each of his previous five World Cup appearances.
The numbers give the storyline real weight without needing exaggeration. Entering this tournament, the AP listed Messi with 13 World Cup goals on 105 shots and Ronaldo with eight goals on 103 shots. Ronaldo’s total is lower, but his tournament-by-tournament scoring streak is the historic angle attached to Portugal’s first match.
Why Portugal’s opener matters beyond the milestone
For Portugal, the bigger issue is still the group campaign. Ronaldo told reporters before the squad’s departure that Portugal had to move “match by match” and that a strong start was the most important thing. That is the correct framing for a team that arrives with star power but cannot afford to turn the opener into only a record watch.
There is also a sporting question around Ronaldo’s role. He scored only once at the 2022 World Cup and did not score at Euro 2024, but his more recent production has been harder to ignore. The AP report points to eight goals during Portugal’s 2025 UEFA Nations League title run, including an equalizer in the final against Spain, as well as 28 league goals for Al-Nassr in a title-winning Saudi Pro League season.
Congo DR will not want to be a footnote
Congo DR’s task is to make sure the night is not reduced to a Ronaldo documentary. Coach Sébastien Desabre was quoted by the AP with a clear line on the record chase: he wished Ronaldo well, but not against his team. That is the right competitive posture for an underdog facing a global headline player.
Portugal will expect to have more possession and more control, but early tournament matches often turn on set pieces, defensive concentration and game-state pressure. If Congo DR can keep the match tight into the second half, the record conversation may become a source of tension rather than momentum for Portugal.
How to watch Portugal vs Congo DR
The Associated Press schedule lists Portugal vs Congo DR for 1 p.m. ET in Houston, with TV and streaming coverage on Fox, Telemundo and Peacock in the United States. Viewers should still check local listings and platform availability close to kick-off, particularly for streaming access.
For Sportsfila readers tracking the wider day, the same schedule lists England vs Croatia at 4 p.m. ET, Ghana vs Panama at 7 p.m. ET and Uzbekistan vs Colombia at 10 p.m. ET. FIFA’s official match centre remains the safest place to verify fixtures, venues and any late schedule changes.
What to watch tactically
The obvious focus is whether Ronaldo starts centrally and how Portugal manage service into the box. If Portugal create early chances from wide areas, Ronaldo’s movement between centre-backs will be the main record-watch detail. If Congo DR can limit crosses and force Portugal into slower circulation, the match could become more about patience than star finishing.
Either way, the opener has a clear news hook: a Portugal win would settle the team into the tournament, while a Ronaldo goal would add another line to one of World Cup football’s longest individual records.
Sources
- Associated Press via The Daily News: Ronaldo looks to make history by scoring in 6th World Cup
- FIFA official World Cup match centre
- FIFA official match schedule, fixtures and stadiums
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