Ronaldo begins a record-equalling sixth World Cup as Portugal face DR Congo

What happened

Cristiano Ronaldo begins his sixth World Cup on Wednesday as Portugal open their campaign against DR Congo in Houston, in Group K. The 41-year-old becomes only the second player to feature at six World Cups — a day after Lionel Messi reached the mark against Algeria — and goes into the match aiming to become the first player to find the net at six different finals.

Why it matters

For one of the game's defining figures, the occasion carries unusual weight: at 41, this is widely expected to be Ronaldo's final World Cup, and the chance to set a scoring record no player has reached gives the opener an added edge. It is also the start of Portugal's tournament under Roberto Martínez, with the team built to give their captain one more deep run.

Context

Ronaldo's appearance follows Messi's own sixth-World Cup milestone on Tuesday, when the Argentine marked it with a hat-trick, framing a generational moment for the two players who have shaped the modern game. DR Congo, Portugal's opponents, arrive looking to spring a surprise, while Group K also features Colombia and Uzbekistan.

What to watch next

The immediate focus is whether Ronaldo starts and whether he can add the goal that would make him the first to score at six World Cups, and how Portugal handle a physical DR Congo side. Beyond Houston, the day's standout fixture sees England open against Croatia in Dallas, with the rest of the group stage continuing to take shape.