{"id":4837,"date":"2026-06-23T11:35:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T11:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4837"},"modified":"2026-06-23T11:35:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T11:35:58","slug":"world-cup-what-to-know-cristiano-ronaldo-aiming-to-get-on-track-after-disappointing-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4837","title":{"rendered":"World Cup what to know: Cristiano Ronaldo aiming to get on track after disappointing start"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Portugal\u2019s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Portugal and Congo in Houston, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

Lionel Messi<\/a> , Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/a> and Erling Haaland have taken their expected starring roles so far in the World Cup.<\/p>

Read more Why prediction markets\u2019 election picks are useful, even when they seem wrong<\/a><\/p>\n

Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a> is getting some unexpected criticism.<\/p>\n

Portugal\u2019s 41-year-old star arrived in North America hoping to to make history by scoring in his sixth straight World Cup. He ended up frustrated after a forgettable opening performance<\/a> in Portugal’s surprising 1-1 draw<\/a> against Congo, missing on a couple of good scoring chances in the second half.<\/p>\n

Ronaldo and Portugal get a chance to get back on track against Uzbekistan Tuesday in Houston.<\/p>\n

One of the pre-tournament favorites to win the World Cup, Portugal could use a win to keep pace in Group K following Colombia\u2019s opening win and Congo\u2019s draw in its first World Cup in 52 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are playing a World Cup so of course we have a lot of noise and tension but it\u2019s part of the game,\u201d Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said. \u201cThe focus is on the team and we want to show a positive attitude. We are very much focused. We are strong. The team is even more united than before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colombia and Congo play in Guadalajara, Mexico, in Tuesday\u2019s late match, with England and Harry Kane facing Ghana. Panama also plays Croatia in a critical Group L match after both teams lost their openers.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, 1 p.m. EDT in Houston (Fox\/Telemundo\/Peacock)<\/p>\n

\u2014 England vs. Ghana, 4 p.m. EDT in Foxborough, Massachusetts (Fox\/Telemundo\/Peacock)<\/p>\n

\u2014 Panama vs. Croatia, 7 p.m. EDT in Toronto (Fox\/Telemundo\/Peacock)<\/p>\n

\u2014 Colombia vs. Congo, 10 p.m. EDT in Guadalajara, Mexico (FS1\/Telemundo\/Peacock)<\/p>\n

Harry Kane scored two goals in England’s opening 4-2 win<\/a> over Croatia, giving him 10 in World Cup play to match Gary Lineker\u2019s English record. It also pushed Kane into a seven-way tie for seventh in tournament history.<\/p>\n

Kane gets a chance to add to that total when England faces surprising Ghana in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Should he score, Kane would move into a tie for sixth with Germany\u2019s J\u00fcrgen Klinsmann and Hungary\u2019s S\u00e1ndor Kocsis. A win would send England to the knockout stage for the third straight World Cup.<\/p>\n

Ghana is tied with England atop Group L following its opening 1-0 win over Panama<\/a> on Brandon Thomas-Asante\u2019s goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. Ghana is looking for its first trip to the knockout stage since reaching the quarterfinals in 2010.<\/p>\n

England is unbeaten against African teams at the World Cup, with five wins and three draws.<\/p>\n

Panama and Croatia will play a game in Toronto that neither can afford to lose.<\/p>\n

With opening losses, the countries are at the bottom of Group L behind England and Ghana. A win keeps alive the hopes of reaching the knockout stage, while a loss all but ends those hopes.<\/p>\n

Panama was in line for its first World Cup point against Ghana before Thomas-Asante\u2019s late goal broke a scoreless tie.<\/p>\n

Croatia finished third in Qatar in 2022 and was runner-up to France four years earlier in Russia, but is in trouble after losing 4-2 to England in this year\u2019s opener.<\/p>

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Colombia can lock up its spot in the knockout stage against surprising Congo in Guadalajara.<\/p>\n

It would be a big step after the Colombians didn\u2019t even get into the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.<\/p>\n

Luis Diaz got Colombia off to a strong start in its opener, finishing with a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Colombians could face a difficult task against a disciplined Congo side that frustrated Portugal.<\/p>\n

Keep an eye on Congo\u2019s Yoane Wissa. The Newcastle United forward scored Congo\u2019s first goal in two World Cup appearances with a header in stoppage time just before halftime against Portugal.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Messi sets World Cup scoring record as defending champion Argentina advances to knockout stage<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Christian Pulisic returns to training with US after missing last World Cup match with injury<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 of France scores 2 goals to reach 16 in World Cup career, tying for 2nd most<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Erling Haaland scores 2 more goals and Norway beats Senegal 3-2 to reach World Cup round of 32<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 World Cup concessions: $75 caviar-topped tots in Miami, a day\u2019s pay worth of beer in Mexico City<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck out for the rest of the World Cup with ankle injury<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 World Cup goal frenzy: 121 goals in 40 games. Premier League players lead the way<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 A win over Saudi Arabia would send Cape Verde to the round of 32 at the World Cup<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 World Cup Day 12 photo gallery<\/a><\/p>\n

Messi scored his 17th and 18th World Cup goals in a 2-0 over Austria, breaking the record<\/a> of 16 set by Germany\u2019s Miroslav Klos. The Argentina star also set another, less-desirable record, missing his third career non-shootout penalty kick in the first half.<\/a> That\u2019s one more than Ghana\u2019s Asamoah Gyan for such misses in the World Cup. Messi also has taken a record seven penalty kicks.<\/p>

Read more Mamdani views 2026 House endorsements as a 2028 test<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP Sports Writers Kyle Hightower and Kristie Rieken contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While other star players have come through so far in the World Cup, Portugal\u2019s Cristiano Ronaldo is getting some criticism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4835,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"\nWorld Cup what to know: Cristiano Ronaldo aiming to get on track after disappointing start - Moving Insider USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4837\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"World Cup what to know: Cristiano Ronaldo aiming to get on track after disappointing start - 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