Jun 18, 2026 11:46 am IST

Ringside View | FIFA World Cup 2026: Magic Of Cristiano Ronaldo Missing — But Why?

On a day when Lionel Messi found the net, Kylian Mbappe delivered again and Harry Kane added his name to the scoresheet, Cristiano Ronaldo's was conspicuously absent.

Rica Roy Rica Roy Sports Editor, NDTV 24x7

Rica Roy Sports Editor, NDTV 24x7

On a day when Lionel Messi found the net, Kylian Mbappe delivered again and Harry Kane added his name to the scoresheet, Cristiano Ronaldo's was conspicuously absent. For many of his supporters, the question is simple: what happened? Inside the stadium in Houston, Portugal fans repeatedly chanted Ronaldo's name, hoping to spark one of those familiar moments that have defined his extraordinary career. He acknowledged them, gesturing back, perhaps willing something special into existence himself. But nothing came on the night.

For more than an hour during Portugal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo on Wednesday, Ronaldo barely registered. It wasn't that he was having a disastrous........

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