Axel Tuanzebe Shines in World Cup Opener Against Portugal
Axel Tuanzebe walked off the pitch in Houston with a grin that had been missing for months – and with Cristiano Ronaldo firmly in his back pocket.
No sentiment. No favours. Not even for a former mentor.
The Burnley centre-back, fresh from a relegation-haunted Premier League campaign, produced the kind of performance defenders dream about and strikers dread, anchoring a Congo display that stunned Portugal and dragged Ronaldo into the shadows in their first World Cup match since 1974.
This was supposed to be Ronaldo’s stage. Instead, it became Tuanzebe’s.
Old mentor, new reality
At Carrington, Tuanzebe was the young defender asking questions, soaking up every detail from one of the game’s greatest. In Houston, the dynamic flipped. Respect stayed in the past; the present demanded ruthlessness.
Tuanzebe led a defensive masterclass that turned a 41-year-old scoring phenomenon into an also-ran, feeding the growing debate over whether Ronaldo can still bend the biggest tournaments to his will.
There was no apology from the defender. No hint of regret.
“Cristiano is still hungry, he still wants to play, he still wants to show everybody how good he is,” Tuanzebe said. “In the box, he wants to get the goals, he wants to get to that magic number of a thousand.
“He will be disappointed, but that's my job. I'm sure Cristiano, wherever he goes, he'll bring a swarm of fans with him. But ultimately, we're just happy about the result.”
That last line said everything. The bond from Manchester meant nothing once the whistle blew.
Congo unafraid, and unapologetic
If Tuanzebe kept his respect intact, Ngaleyel Mukau didn’t bother with the diplomatic route.
The Congo team-mate spoke with a bluntness that cut through the usual World Cup politeness, making it clear Ronaldo’s aura no longer dictates game plans.
“He's one of the greatest to ever play the game. So much respect to him,” Mukau said. “But to be honest, there was no plan, not really, because we know that he isn't the same as before.
“He's a bit older now. When you get old like that, it's not the same effort that you can make.”
No special instructions. No double-marking. No fear.
Congo treated Ronaldo like just another forward, and for long spells, he looked exactly that.
Ronaldo’s frustration, Congo’s belief
Ronaldo’s irritation was obvious, even as he fulfilled his post-match duties, signing autographs and facing the questions.
“What was missing? Nothing was missing, that's football,” he said. “Portugal could have won, but it could also have lost. It could have gone either way.”
On social media, the message was defiant rather than defeated: “It wasn't the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Heads up and focus on the next game.”
For Congo, this was much more than a plucky point. It felt like a reset, especially for Tuanzebe.
The defender has carried the weight of relegation with Burnley, a season where little went right and confidence took a beating. Here, on the biggest stage of all, he looked reborn.
“It's definitely a positive for me personally,” he admitted. “Getting good results always feels good. And, look, it's a massive tournament. It's the biggest event in the world and we want to perform and do well in it.”
Eyes on Colombia and Uzbekistan
The draw has done more than dent Portugal’s momentum. It has lit a fire in a Congo side that arrived without fanfare and now carries genuine threat.
“Our mission now is to qualify,” Tuanzebe said. “We need one win, we've got two games to do that, to get the three points. And we're definitely going to go one hundred per cent at it, whether it be Colombia or Uzbekistan.
“We’re going to go flat out and try to get it done sooner rather than later. So, yeah, we'll be recovering now and getting ready for that game.”
One result has already rewritten expectations. If Tuanzebe and Congo defend like this again, Ronaldo won’t be the only giant looking over his shoulder in this World Cup.
