The Minister of Sports in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Didier Budimbu, stirred the atmosphere before the start of the 2026 World Cup with strong statements targeting Portugal's star player Cristiano Ronaldo.

These statements came as a morale boost for the players of the Congo national team before they face a tough challenge in a group that includes Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.

During his talk with the national team players, Bodimbo emphasized the need to display a high fighting spirit, urging them to deliver a great performance against Portugal.

The minister made a provocative statement: "We want to see Cristiano Ronaldo cry when he faces the Democratic Republic of the Congo," referring to motivating his players to achieve a strong result.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo national team returns to the World Cup after a long absence of 52 years, following their victory in the final qualifying match against Jamaica with a score of one to nil.

The Congolese national team is set to begin its tournament journey with a strong match against Portugal on June 17, as part of the 2026 World Cup competitions.

This match holds great significance for Congo, which is striving to assert its presence against one of the world's leading teams led by Ronaldo.