Cristiano Ronaldo became the target of ridicule on social media after Portugal's 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup (which took place in the early hours of June 18th, Vietnam time).
Failing to score and unable to help Portugal win against a less-fancied opponent, Ronaldo became the target of attacks from many social media accounts. Hours after the match, a flood of memes related to CR7 appeared on X, Instagram, and Facebook.


A series of videos showing the Portuguese captain leaving the field to the chants of "Messi, Messi, Messi" from the crowd have gone viral on social media, sparking numerous comments and memes. The never-ending debate between fans of the two football superstars has been reignited.
The pressure on Ronaldo increased when, the day before, Lionel Messi shone in Argentina 's victory. The contrast in performances between the two football legends became a new focal point at the World Cup.
Amidst the wave of ridicule, the 41-year-old superstar posted a picture from the match with the caption: "This isn't the start we wanted, the journey is still long. Keep your heads held high and focus on the next game."
Ronaldo's message received millions of interactions. In the comments section, Georgina Rodriguez was one of the first to send words of encouragement. CR7's girlfriend left a heart emoji to boost her boyfriend's spirits during this difficult time.
Ronaldo's sister, Katia Aveiro, publicly defended her brother on social media. She argued that the criticism directed at Ronaldo was unfair and that the disappointing performance against the Democratic Republic of Congo was the team's responsibility.
"It's so disappointing. In the end, everyone is still blaming one person. Luckily, those shoulders are broad enough to carry it all," Katia wrote.
In the early hours of June 18th, Portugal entered the match against the Democratic Republic of Congo as the favorites. Coach Roberto Martinez's team opened the scoring thanks to Joao Neves in the 6th minute, and were expected to win.



Yoane Wissa scored the equalizer before the end of the first half, giving the Democratic Republic of Congo their first ever World Cup goal. The match ended 1-1, creating one of the first surprises of the tournament.
At 41 years old, Ronaldo is participating in his sixth World Cup, most likely his last appearance on the biggest stage in the world. Every performance by CR7 receives special attention from the media and fans.
The 2026 World Cup has only just begun, but the draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo has already put Portugal under considerable pressure. For Ronaldo, the online ridicule is perhaps just part of the challenge. What he and his teammates need now is a victory in the next match to regain the advantage in the race for a place in the knockout round.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/ronaldo-bi-che-gieu-khap-mang-xa-hoi-post1852273.tpo








