Portugal drew 1-1 with Congo in their World Cup opener on Wednesday at NRG Stadium, where Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match.
João Neves gave Portugal the lead in the sixth minute, heading in Pedro Neto’s cross. Yoane Wissa equalised for Congo in first-half stoppage time from Arthur Masuaku’s cross.
The goal was Congo’s first in World Cup history. The team had failed to score in three matches at the 1974 tournament, when it played as Zaire.
Congo made only its second World Cup appearance and its first in 52 years. The match drew 68,777 spectators, with most of the NRG Stadium crowd supporting Portugal.
Ronaldo joined Argentina captain Lionel Messi as the only players to appear in six World Cups. He missed two second-half chances that would have made him the first player to score in six editions.
Portugal also came close through Bruno Fernandes, who shot wide in the 90th minute. João Cancelo had a 55th-minute bicycle-kick goal ruled out for offside.
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Cédric Bakambu nearly put Congo ahead after Cancelo’s disallowed goal, but his effort struck the near post.
Ronaldo broke the oldest-starting outfield player record previously held by Canada midfielder Atiba Hutchinson. Cameroon’s Roger Milla remains the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup match.
