Yoane Wissa etched his name into football history as DR Congo claimed a remarkable 1-1 draw against Portugal in their World Cup Group K opener, denying one of the tournament’s heavyweights a winning start. The result sent shockwaves through the competition, confirming that the Central African nation — absent from the global stage for over five decades — had returned as a genuine force.
The match unfolded at a high tempo, with Roberto Martinez‘s side controlling the ball for long stretches yet struggling to translate that dominance into meaningful attacking opportunities. Despite their technical superiority, Portugal found themselves pegged back by a disciplined and dangerous opponent.
Joao Neves Opens the Scoring
Joao Neves gave Portugal the perfect start, rising to meet a left-wing delivery from Pedro Neto and directing a precise header into the net just six minutes into the contest. The early breakthrough appeared to set the stage for a comfortable Portuguese victory, with the European giants expected to build on their advantage.
Yet the lead proved deceptive. Portugal’s midfield struggled to unlock a compact DR Congo defensive structure, and the team’s 75% share of possession yielded precious little in terms of genuine goal threats. Their inability to convert territorial control into clear-cut chances would ultimately cost them.
Wissa Rewrites History in Stoppage Time
The defining moment arrived deep into first-half added time, when Arthur Masuaku whipped a cross into the penalty area from the left flank. Yoane Wissa, the Newcastle United striker, found himself with an inexplicable amount of space inside the box — a defensive lapse that Portugal’s backline would rue — and powered a header past Diogo Costa from six yards out.
The goal carried enormous historical weight. DR Congo, competing under the name Zaire during their sole previous World Cup appearance in 1974, had conceded 14 goals across three matches without scoring once. More than half a century later, Wissa erased that painful legacy with a single, well-taken header. His season at Newcastle had been disrupted by injury — he managed just three goals in 28 appearances following his £55 million transfer from Brentford, with his last club strike coming in a Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven in January — but on the grandest stage, he delivered when it mattered most.
Cedric Bakambu also threatened for the Congolese side, rattling the post with a close-range effort and sending another attempt wide, though the referee had already signalled a foul before the first of those chances.
Ronaldo’s Record Bid Comes Up Empty
All eyes had been on Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of kick-off. The Al-Nassr forward, now 41 years and 132 days old, became the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup fixture, and his participation in a sixth consecutive finals drew comparisons with Argentina‘s Lionel Messi, who had reached the same milestone. The Portuguese captain’s ambition to become the first footballer to score in six different World Cups captured the imagination of fans worldwide.
Before the match, former England captain Wayne Rooney — speaking on BBC One — quipped that his old Manchester United teammate would be “raging — but in a good way” at the sight of Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland combining for seven goals in victories for Argentina, France and Norway earlier that Tuesday.
Ronaldo‘s best opportunities arrived in quick succession midway through the second half, when substitute Francisco Conceicao twice cut the ball back low across the face of goal. On both occasions, the veteran striker arrived at the right moment but directed his shots just beyond the far post. Those two attempts were Portugal’s third and fourth of the entire match — a damning statistic for a side of their calibre. Their solitary effort on target throughout the ninety minutes remained Neves‘ opening header.
DR Congo Prove Their Worth on the World Stage
Ranked 46th globally, DR Congo entered the tournament as significant underdogs, yet their performance dismantled any notion that they were merely making up the numbers. Their five-man defensive unit was disciplined and well-organised, neutralising Ronaldo and his attacking partners for extended periods while posing a consistent threat on the break.
The point represents a watershed moment for Congolese football — proof that the nation has evolved dramatically since the humiliations of 1974. With Group K still wide open, the result sets up a fascinating series of fixtures for both sides.
Upcoming Fixtures
Portugal will face World Cup debutants Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday, 23 June, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 BST. A win will be essential if Martinez‘s side are to recover their momentum and assert themselves as genuine contenders.
DR Congo, meanwhile, travel to Guadalajara to take on Colombia in their second Group K encounter on 24 June, with the match set to begin at 03:00 BST. Another positive result would firmly establish them as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
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