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They certainly gave it their all. Following the dazzling performances of Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and especially Lionel Messi, who all left their mark on the tournament yesterday, the BBC did their utmost to suggest that Cristiano Ronaldo was delivering a similar impact for Portugal during their uninspired 1-1 draw against a spirited DR Congo side.

You really had to strain your eyes to see it. The half-time discussion panel spent a surprising amount of time praising Ronaldo’s supposed brilliance in, well, standing offside and looking frustrated. Apparently, he was ‘occupying defenders’. There was even talk about whether one could or could not see his shirt number, depending on which interpretation suited the narrative.

According to them, he was playing exceptionally well—and everyone needed to acknowledge it. After all, top-level sport isn’t only about the touches you make; it’s also about the ones you don’t. And Ronaldo was excelling at not touching the ball at all. If you failed to recognise his genius, that was supposedly your shortcoming—not his. Certainly not his.

In the second half, he did manage a few attempts on goal. They missed the target. The first of those shots, which came just before the Hydration Break, wasn’t his fault either—because, you see, the ball had been struck at him quite forcefully. What more could a legend of the game possibly do in that situation?

In reality, Ronaldo’s display was as hollow as that Hydration Break itself—one where coach Roberto Martinez tried desperately to offer tactical guidance to his underperforming players, none of whom even pretended to sip any water despite the 20-degree temperature inside an air-conditioned stadium.

FIFA really ought to remind teams that they must at least act as though they’re hydrating during these breaks. Otherwise, the illusion will soon wear thin for everyone watching.

But that phrase—‘going through the motions’—perfectly summed up Portugal’s overall performance. Their shortcomings extended far beyond the Hydration Breaks.

After Joao Neves gave them an early advantage with an unexpectedly commanding header, Portugal’s effort became careless and complacent. Ronaldo and his teammates seemed convinced the match was already won against a DR Congo side that clearly hadn’t received that message.

Warning signs were overlooked repeatedly before some slack marking from a corner allowed Yoane Wissa to nod home a well-deserved equaliser right before half-time.

Portugal failed to show any real improvement after the interval, their urgency arriving far too late. The substitution of Vitinha for the more direct Goncalo Ramos stripped the team of creativity and subtlety.

Even then, DR Congo—who had reached the tournament only through the inter-confederation play-offs—looked every bit capable of snatching a late winner against their more illustrious opponents.

To be clear, all is not lost for Portugal. Many strong teams have stumbled early in this competition, which still offers room for recovery.

However, they cannot persist in this manner. Ronaldo has become the proverbial elephant in Portugal’s dressing room. One might still debate the relative greatness of Ronaldo and Messi in their prime, but at this stage, there is no contest. The additional years have clearly diminished Ronaldo’s influence.

While Messi continues to propel a talented Argentina side forward, Ronaldo now feels more like a hindrance to a Portugal squad that, on paper, could even rival Argentina in quality.

Ronaldo registered just 25 touches throughout the game—none of which were particularly memorable. Only Bernardo Silva had fewer, with 23 touches, though he was substituted at half-time.

It increasingly appears that this team should revolve around Bruno Fernandes. Over the past year, Fernandes has demonstrated what he can achieve when given leadership responsibility. Yet in this Portugal setup, the overwhelming presence of Ronaldo overshadows him, turning one of their most creative players into a supporting act waiting to shine.

Portugal possess all the tools needed to lift this World Cup. The uncomfortable reality they must now confront is that the most effective formula might exclude the once-great figure who, at 41, is but a shadow of his former self.