Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterPortugal's World Cup campaign got off to a frustrating start with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo.The Group K clash should, at least on paper, have been a relatively straightforward outing for Portugal, who are among the tournament favourites this summer.However, Portugal lacked a cutting edge and Cristiano Ronaldo cut a dejected figure throughout.Cristiano Ronaldo appealed for offside against his own playerThere was one particular moment in this World Cup 2026 game where Ronaldo was more animated, though.Funnily enough, it was when his own teammate, Joao Cancelo, was in an offside position as he put the ball in the back of the net. You may like Portugal vs DR Congo prediction as Cristiano Ronaldo goes for broke in World Cup record books How to watch Portugal vs DR Congo live streams online and from anywhere, as both sides get their World Cup campaigns underway. Cristiano Ronaldo is holding Portugal back: and it wouldn't be good for football if he wins the World Cup Is Cristiano Ronaldo appealing for an offside against... Joao Cancelo? pic.twitter.com/K5kIu7TOQGJune 17, 2026For some reason, in the footage from that incident, it appears Ronaldo actually flagged to the linesman to say that his compatriot was offside.After Cancelo performed an impressive overhead kick, Ronaldo immediately waved his arm in the air to signal something wasn't right, much like a defender would do if an opponent had just scored against them.Get the FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Of course, he may simply have been letting his colleague know it wasn't worth celebrating, but this is not the first time the Portuguese captain has been seen making such a gesture after a teammate scored.Back in 2023, Anderson Talisca scored late on in an Asian Champions League game to put Al-Nassr ahead. However, as soon as his header nestled in the goal, Ronaldo was seen making that same gesture once again.Years earlier, in 2016, Ronaldo did it again while playing for Real Madrid. Alvaro Morata grabbed a late winner for Los Blancos against Athletic Bilbao, but Ronaldo looked over to the linesman and waved his hand as if to suggest the goal shouldn't stand.Many fans have claimed the footballing icon is merely celebrating when he does this, but it's hard to ignore how much it looks like he just doesn't want anyone else to score a goal.TOPICSPortugalWorld CupWorld Cup 2026Jakob BarnesFreelance WriterJakob has over 11 years of experience in journalism across sports, entertainment, tech, and politics. Now a freelance news writer for FourFourTwo, he covers the biggest stories from the world of football.
