Ngal’ayel Mukau’s comments about Cristiano Ronaldo have gone viral after DR Congo and Portugal played out a 1-1 draw at the World Cup on Wednesday afternoon.

Ronaldo, now 41 years old, was named in Seleção das Quinas’ starting XI for their match against the African nation at Houston Stadium in Texas.

Portugal went into the match as huge favourites and it didn’t take them long to take the lead as Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Joao Neves headed home in the sixth minute.

Despite having the lion’s share of possession for the remainder of the first half, Portugal were unable to add to their lead and DR Congo made them pay when Yoane Wissa restored parity on the stroke of half-time.

Neither side could find a winner in the second half as the the spoils were shared.

DR Congo Star Gives Honest Take on Cristiano Ronaldo After Match

Cristiano Ronaldo via REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Ronaldo would have been hoping to get off to a flying start at the 2026 World Cup. However, despite playing the full 90 minutes, he was unable to make an impact.

In fact, he received a Sofascore rating of just 6.1/10 after a highly frustrating night that saw him take three shots but record none on target.

Lille midfielder Mukau was asked about Ronaldo in his post-match interview. A reporter quizzed him on whether DR Congo had worked on a ‘special plan’ to contain the 41-year-old. Mukau replied:

“Still, one of the greatest to ever play the game, much respect to him!”

Thierry Henry Questions Cristiano Ronaldo After Portugal 1-1 DR Congo

Cristiano Ronaldo via REUTERS/Phil Noble

Thierry Henry sent a message to Ronaldo following his performance against DR Congo. The Frenchman, who was covering the game as a pundit for Fox, said following the draw:

“One thing that’s important, people, please at home, the team needs to score. Not you needs to score…

“Because he [Ronaldo] wants to score, he goes in the path of the back pass, you see both players, and it’s easier for you to defend. And that’s my thing: the team needs to score. Not you.”

Ronaldo addressed his performance and the result on social media after the match. He wrote: “It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Head up and focus on the next game.”

Portugal and Ronaldo are next in action on Tuesday, June 23, when they take on Uzbekistan at Houston Stadium.

A clip of Wayne Rooney’s analysis of Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance during Portugal’s 2026 World Cup opening match against DR Congo has caused a stir on social media.

Portugal were expected to breeze past DR Congo, who were given a 0.09% chance of winning this summer’s tournament by Opta’s Supercomputer, but Roberto Martinez’s side were left frustrated by their unfancied opponents at the Houston Stadium.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Joao Neves put Portugal 1-0 up in the 6th minute with a fine header, only for Newcastle United’s Yoane Wissa to equalise on the stoke of half-time.

Ronaldo, who turned 41 in February, played the full 90 minutes but struggled to make an impact.

He spurned a couple of chances to score and has now gone 10 consecutive major tournament games without netting for Portugal.

Rooney’s Analysis of Ronaldo’s Performance

Cristiano Ronaldo via REUTERS/Phil Noble

Rooney joked that his former Manchester United teammate will “have been raging” after watching his long-term rival Lionel Messi score a hat-trick for Argentina in his first appearance of the 2026 World Cup.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner equalised Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 World Cup goals in the process.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in France’s opening match, and Erling Haaland also netted a brace for Norway.

While Ronaldo has received heavy criticism for his underwhelming performance against DR Congo, Rooney jumped to the veteran forward’s defence with his half-time analysis.

Rooney highlighted how Ronaldo’s mere presence posed problems for DR Congo’s defence and helped to contribute towards Portugal’s goal.

“What Ronaldo’s doing is he’s taking that option away from defenders,” Rooney explained. “He’s standing behind them, then they’re looking over their shoulders, like ‘where is he?’, then they drop and then it creates a lot of space in front of the back four – it’s really clever.” Watch the clip below:

Rooney’s analysis has split opinion. Some football fans expressed their disbelief, with one commenting on X (Twitter): “Yeah, Wayne Rooney probably doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

Another said: “I nearly volleyed my tele listening to this,” while a third added:

A fourth fan said: “Who is he kidding? Ronaldo was a joke.”

However, others felt that Rooney made a salient point. One person commented: “Someone needs to state facts while the clowns are pushing their agendas, glad it’s Wazza!”

Another wrote: “Because Rooney understands football, unlike 99.99% of football fans,” while someone else commented:

Ronaldo will be desperate to silence his critics when Portugal face Uzbekistan in their second Group K match on June 23. Their final group stage match is against Colombia four days later.

Manchester United’s efforts to improve their midfield ranks may have hit a stumbling block, as Mundo Deportivo reports that a transfer hijack from Real Madrid and former boss Jose Mourinho could force the team to change course.

It comes as talks have ramped up over new potential midfield additions, with the Red Devils keen on adding some quality in possession heading into next season.

Several targets have been on the cards, with a deal already agreed to sign Ederson from Atalanta as just the first addition of a few expected in the middle of the park.

The next arrival is unclear as things stand, but Man United have been locked in talks to sign Mateus Fernandes, a target who is now the subject of interest from Real Madrid.

Man United Transfer Domino Effect

via Reuters

According to the report from Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid are set to push for a deal to sign Fernandes from West Ham this summer, with Mourinho keen to land the Portuguese international.

It comes as a potential hijacking of a deal that Man United have been attempting to complete for the past few weeks, with talks held in an attempt to secure the midfielder.

Real Madrid’s inclusion could make for a tough negotiating period ahead, especially when it comes to convincing the player in the coming weeks.

However, there is a knock-on effect, as the report adds that Aurelien Tchouameni is likely to leave if Fernandes is signed by Los Blancos this summer.

That could open a pathway where Man United miss out on one target, but land another as a result, with the Red Devils poised and ready to strike into action.

The Red Devils have been heavily linked with a move for Tchouameni, and a deal could now become available for the star, but at a considerable price.

The report claims that a “substantial offer” will be needed for Man United to land the Frenchman, with those funds likely to help the side pursue other moves in the transfer market.

Tchouameni Would Be An Upgrade For Man United

Sarah Meyssonnier Via Reuters

Fernandes is clearly a player with plenty of potential, but with two Premier League relegations in consecutive seasons, it’s understandable why teams may be reluctant to pay such a big price tag for him.

With Real Madrid making a move, it could prevent Man United from making a mistake in landing him, and offers a chance to land an upgrade in Tchouameni.

The midfielder has been described as “the best DM in the world”, and for good reason too. The 26-year-old has nearly 200 appearances for Real Madrid, which is no small feat, while he is a regular for France on the international stage.

Adding someone approaching the peak of their career who has been at the highest level with even more to come sounds like an ideal move for Man United.