Vernon Overview

Cristiano Ronaldo has come under fire after Portugal were held to a draw by DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Former England striker Jay Bothroyd claimed the veteran forward is becoming a burden on the team, while Roberto Martinez continues to back his captain despite growing scrutiny.

The 2026 World Cup is underway as those still in contention fight it out for the universally coveted trophy. While the collective prize is the main objective for all competitors, some are already making their claim as the best player of the entire tournament. Lionel Messi is the current top candidate after a sublime hat-trick against Algeria, but the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise are hot on his tail after the first week.

With the first round of group stage matches now complete, we assess the nations that could offer value in the Outright Winner market.

Paul Scholes has admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo is a "problem" for Portugal after their disappointing World Cup draw against DR Congo. The Manchester United legend also claims that his ex-team-mate will be "so pissed off" to have seen his eternal rival Lionel Messi score a hat-trick in Argentina's tournament opener against Algeria.