Wissa's Historic World Cup Goal
DR Congo Secures Historic 1-1 Draw With Portugal Via First-Ever World Cup Goal
Key Points
Although Portugal had more of the ball, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes were largely kept quiet; Ronaldo’s best opportunities included a shot inside the box that went wide and another chance that was blocked.
Portugal tried to change the game late: coach Roberto Martínez brought on Gonçalo Ramos for Vitinha in the 83rd minute, but the move didn’t break the tie; Portugal’s late best chance was a 90th-minute Fernandes shot that went about a foot wide of the right post.
Ronaldo started at striker for Portugal and was appearing in his sixth FIFA World Cup—matching Lionel Messi’s feat.
The equalizer was built from late first-half set pieces: DR Congo secured a pair of corners in stoppage time, and on the second corner the ball was played short to defender Arthur Masuaku, whose cross found Yoane Wissa for the header.
Yoane Wissa’s goal ended DR Congo’s 52-year World Cup wait dating back to 1974, and his presence in the tournament was notable off the pitch as his inclusion in the 26-man squad was announced in May 2026—after he had been playing for Newcastle United in the Premier League.
DR Congo scored its first-ever World Cup goal on June 17, ending a 52-year wait that stretched back to their only prior appearance as Zaire in 1974. Yoane Wissa headed in an equalizer in the final seconds of first-half stoppage time to earn a 1-1 draw against Portugal at NRG Stadium in Houston, in front of 72,108 fans. BBC confirmed the result as historic for the African nation.
Portugal had taken the lead through João Neves in the sixth minute and controlled 68% of possession. But the Leopards held firm, kept Cristiano Ronaldo quiet, and struck just when it mattered. "This wasn't just a goal for me; it was for the 100 million people in Congo who have waited 52 years," Wissa said after the match.
Wissa's Last-Gasp Header Rewrites History
Portugal looked set to take a comfortable lead into halftime. Then DR Congo won a corner in the 45th minute. The first delivery was cleared, earning a second corner. This time, the ball was played short to defender Arthur Masuaku, according to BeIN Sports. His whipped cross found Wissa, who outjumped Rúben Dias and headed the ball into the top corner.
The goal sparked immediate celebrations inside NRG Stadium and thousands of miles away in Kinshasa, where crowds flooded the streets near the Stade des Martyrs. The result wiped out the memory of Zaire's 1974 campaign, which ended with three losses, a 9-0 defeat to Yugoslavia, and zero goals scored. Voice Online called it DR Congo's "first ever World Cup point in 52 years."
Ronaldo's Sixth World Cup Ends in Frustration
Cristiano Ronaldo made history just by playing. This was his sixth World Cup appearance, matching Lionel Messi's record. But the game itself was one to forget for Portugal's captain. His best chance came in the 40th minute — a shot from 12 yards that dragged wide of the left post. Bruno Fernandes came closest to a winner in the 90th minute, firing a long-range effort about a foot wide of the right post.
Portugal manager Roberto Martínez brought on Gonçalo Ramos for Vitinha in the 83rd minute, shifting to two strikers. It did not work. DR Congo's 5-4-1 defensive shape kept Ronaldo isolated and forced Fernandes to drop deep. "We lacked the final pass today," Martínez said afterward, according to BeIN Sports. "The goal before halftime changed the psychological momentum of the game."
A Qualification Road Built on Knockout Wins
DR Congo did not qualify easily. They beat African heavyweights Cameroon and Nigeria in back-to-back knockout rounds. Then they beat Jamaica 2-1 on aggregate in an inter-continental playoff in March 2026 to claim the final spot in the expanded 48-team field. That pressure-tested path may explain why the team did not buckle after going behind to Portugal.
Wissa's inclusion in the 26-man squad was only confirmed in May 2026, after a strong Premier League season with Newcastle United. His elite club experience was central to coach Sébastien Desabre's counter-attacking plan. Samuel Eto'o, CAF Ambassador, said the result showed "the gap between Europe and Africa is narrowing," according to BeIN Sports.
One Point Opens a Real Path to the Round of 32
The 2026 World Cup expanded from 32 to 48 teams for the first time. That means more group stage matches and more paths to the knockout rounds. DR Congo now sits with one point after one game. A win or draw in their next match against a lower-seeded opponent could be enough to advance to the Round of 32 — something that would have been far harder to achieve in previous tournaments.
Portugal, meanwhile, faces serious pressure. A second dropped result could threaten their place in the knockout stages. "We must be more clinical in the next match," Ronaldo said, according to Voice Online. Off the pitch, demand for DR Congo jerseys surged after the final whistle — kit maker Umbro reported a 400% spike in sales within 24 hours of the draw, according to BBC.
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