The statement that made Ronaldo a laughingstock.

Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was mocked by netizens after his confident statement ahead of the opening match at the 2026 World Cup.

Ronaldo was ridiculed. Photo: Reuters .

Before departing for the US with the national team to participate in the tournament, the 41-year-old star showed great confidence when asked about his physical condition. Ronaldo affirmed that he was in excellent shape and ready for his sixth World Cup.

"Physically, I'm perfectly fine. Haven't you seen my recent matches?", Ronaldo confidently stated before the opening day.

However, what unfolded on the pitch was completely contrary to expectations. Facing the Democratic Republic of Congo in the opening match of Group K at the 2026 World Cup on the morning of June 18th, the Portuguese captain was almost completely neutralized by the opponent's tightly organized defense. The African team used a three-centre-back formation and frequently deployed two or more players to closely mark Ronaldo whenever the ball entered the penalty area.

Ronaldo failed to score against Congo. Photo: Reuters .

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The veteran striker's struggles were evident in the statistics. Throughout the 90 minutes, Ronaldo only touched the ball 25 times, the fewest among Portugal's starting players. He took three shots but none were on target.

After the match, many fans recalled Ronaldo's confident statements before the tournament and argued that his performance on the field did not reflect what he had claimed.

One commenter wrote: "Ronaldo talks a great game but hasn't done anything yet."

Another fan wrote: "Confidence is essential, but Ronaldo should remember he's no longer in his prime."

Clearly, pressure is mounting on CR7, especially considering that many top stars at the 2026 World Cup have already delivered impressive performances in the opening matches.

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Source: https://znews.vn/cau-noi-khien-ronaldo-bi-che-cuoi-post1660826.html