If this is, as appears probable, Cristiano Ronaldo 's final FIFA World Cup, then this was far from the fairytale beginning he would have imagined.
Portugal's talisman arrived in Houston having failed to score in his last nine major tournament outings. Furthermore, his role in the team has been intensely debated, with many contending that his presence as the focal point of the attack could actually prove detrimental to Portugal's prospects of claiming a first World Cup title.
Try convincing anyone in the crowd of that. He received a rock star reception during Portugal's uninspiring tie with DR Congo, his first touch of the ball igniting a thunderous roar inside Houston Stadium, as per The Mirror .
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Yet there is no escaping the fact that the Midas touch, which has defined Ronaldo's illustrious career, is diminishing. Even soccer legends cannot outpace the march of time, an inevitability that catches up with everyone eventually.
Much of his involvement came outside the penalty area as he dropped deeper to seek out the ball. Yet he was largely ineffectual and never genuinely threatened to end that grueling drought for a goal at a major tournament.
Ronaldo 2.0 is defined by his goals: if he is not delivering them, the questions will inevitably mount. A liability? That seems severe. But effective, on this occasion, he certainly was not.
Ironically, Portugal's goal was vintage Ronaldo: the diminutive Joao Neves rose gracefully to deliver a textbook header from a Pedro Neto cross into the far corner with surgical precision. Congo's goalkeeper remained rooted to the spot.
However, that proved to be Portugal's high point in the opening period. In fact, it was their sole shot on target as they reached halftime with a disappointing xG of 0.07.
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Congo's wasn't significantly better (0.11), but another header that peak Ronaldo would have celebrated denied Roberto Martinez's side a halftime advantage, this time courtesy of Newcastle United 's Yoanne Wissa . They earned it, too, displaying greater attacking ambition than Portugal despite their opponents' dominance of possession.
Energized by Wissa's goal, they appeared equally capable as their more decorated opponents of departing Houston with three points. Joao Cancelo 's ruled-out bicycle kick was immediately answered by Cedric Bakumbu, who hammered a shot against the woodwork.
The opportunity Ronaldo was anticipating finally materialized just before the second-half hydration break. But the one instance he found himself unmarked in the heart of the penalty area with the ball incoming, the pass was behind him, and the opportunity wasted.
Ultimately, the points were divided in a game that failed to deliver the excitement others have produced. Portugal were overly cautious and, like their No. 7, did not exactly meet the standards they have demonstrated themselves capable of previously.
The Ronaldo debate will likely dominate discussion throughout the competition. Will he finally capture the major trophy, won't he? Should he be in the starting lineup? When you compare the influence his storied rival Lionel Messi delivered for Argentina last night - a World Cup hat-trick at 39 years old , if you missed it - this was worlds apart.
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The reality is that he could scarcely hope for a stronger supporting cast in his quest to claim global glory with Portugal at his final opportunity. What some of the forwards at this competition would give to have the caliber of Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha supplying them.
Portugal are not the first powerhouse of this competition to disappoint. And the enlarged format of the tournament means it would require a sequence of disastrous outcomes for Ronaldo and Co. not to feature in the knockout stage.
They could even still proceed to lift the trophy, and Ronaldo could yet secure the glorious, golden conclusion to a storied international career that he yearns for, even if he does continue to play a more limited role than he wishes.
But this performance will do little to convince the doubters.
