Sports Interaction confirm Ronaldo as the anytime goalscorer market leader at -140 — and the first scorer market naturally follows, with +245 reflecting his dominant position as Portugal's focal point in attack and set-piece hierarchy. Fox Sports confirm -135 anytime on their FanDuel page, and Oddschecker's multi-book consensus places him clearly at the top of the first scorer board.

The first scorer case is built on two foundations: Ronaldo's penalty role and his position as Portugal's lone striker. Against a DR Congo side that conceded in both of their pre-tournament warm-up matches — losses to Denmark and Chile — Portugal are almost certain to generate penalty opportunities, and Ronaldo converts them at one of the highest rates in the game. Canada Sports Betting confirm Portugal averaged 71% possession and 8.3 shots on target per game in qualifying. At 41 and in his 6th and final World Cup, chasing an all-time record 9th World Cup goal on the biggest stage the game offers, Ronaldo's hunger and motivation are unmatched. At +245 first scorer — the market's top pick for this fixture — this is the clearest bet on the board.

SI Betting make the boldest call in this fixture: "I'm going to fade Cristiano Ronaldo, whose peak performances are behind him — by instead of laying a heavy price on him to score, I'm going to target Portugal's attacking midfielder, Bruno Fernandes." SportGambler explicitly back his +185 anytime price, noting he "has racked up three goals in his past four games."

The first scorer case for Fernandes is compelling at +600. As Portugal's central attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1, he occupies the No. 10 role directly behind Ronaldo — the position most likely to arrive into the penalty area on the second wave of any attacking move. He takes free kicks within range, makes penalty-area runs constantly, and is the player who arrives late when DRC's defensive structure becomes disorganised under Portugal's sustained pressure. Racing Post confirm Martínez has "arguably the best midfield in the tournament" and SI.com describe Fernandes as part of "the best midfield in the competition." Three goals in four recent internationals confirms elite form heading into this opener. At +600 first scorer for a player with this combination of form, position, and expert backing, Fernandes is the outstanding value play on today's first goal market.

Fox Sports explicitly list Ramos at +125 anytime on their FanDuel page — and Oddschecker's multi-book consensus places him at 7/5 (+140) with a 45.07% implied probability, the second-highest goalscorer figure on the entire board. At +390 first scorer, the price gap over the anytime market creates genuine value.

The Ramos blueprint is proven at this tournament level. In the 2022 World Cup he came off the bench against Switzerland and scored a hat-trick — one of the most explosive substitute performances in World Cup history. Martínez consistently uses him as an impact sub who enters when Portugal are in control, at which point DRC's defensive shape naturally opens up and Ramos has the finishing ability to punish it. There is also a genuine possibility Martínez starts Ramos today given Ronaldo's age and the importance of managing workload across a long tournament — in which case his first scorer ceiling is the highest of any Portuguese striker. At +390 first scorer for a player with the second-highest anytime implied probability on the board, this is the sleeper pick of the match.

Wissa is the only DRC player worth backing on the first scorer market. Playing at Brentford in the Premier League, he has the quality, pace and finishing ability that none of his DRC teammates can match. Oddschecker's multi-book consensus places him at 5/1 (+500) anytime — the clear preference among bookmakers for the DRC longshot.

Squawka explicitly acknowledge that "the underdogs could land a counter or two along the way." SI.com note that "DR Congo knows it can perform under pressure" — they beat Cameroon, Nigeria and Jamaica to qualify. Desabre's 5-3-2 is built specifically for quick transitions: absorb Portugal's sustained pressure, win the ball, and immediately release Wissa in behind an advanced Portuguese back-line. If DR Congo are going to score first — even at 8% overall DRC win probability — Wissa at ~+1200 is the only first scorer bet that makes sense from the Congo side.

🔮 Prediction: Portugal 3-0 DR Congo — Fernandes opens, Ronaldo adds second

First Goal: Bruno Fernandes +600 🇵🇹
Best Value · Ronaldo +245 the structural top pick

Portugal vs DR Congo · First Goalscorer · NRG Stadium Houston · 1 PM ET

Who is most likely to score first in Portugal vs DR Congo?

Ronaldo at +245 first scorer is the market's unanimous top pick. Sports Interaction confirm him as the anytime market leader (-140) and Fox Sports confirm -135 anytime on their FanDuel page. He is Portugal's designated penalty taker, chasing his 9th World Cup goal in his final World Cup at 41. But Bruno Fernandes at +600 first scorer is the value play — SI Betting explicitly back him over Ronaldo, SportGambler confirm 3 goals in his last 4 internationals, and his central AM role puts him first into the box on arriving runs throughout the match.

Why is Gonçalo Ramos worth backing at +390 first scorer?

Fox Sports confirm Ramos at +125 anytime on their FanDuel page — the second-highest anytime implied probability on the board. Oddschecker's multi-book consensus shows 7/5 (+140) with a 45.07% implied probability. He scored a hat-trick coming off the bench against Switzerland in the 2022 World Cup. He is guaranteed to see minutes today as Martínez's impact sub, and DRC's defensive shape opens up when Portugal lead comfortably. At +390 first scorer, the gap between his anytime (+125) and first scorer price creates exceptional value.

What are the Portugal vs DR Congo FanDuel odds today?

Portugal are -350 on the FanDuel money line (bet365 -371), DR Congo at +800, draw at +475. Over/under 2.5 goals with the Over at -145 to -147. Kalshi traders price Portugal at 77% win probability, draw at 17%, DR Congo at 8%. Squawka: "goal markets lean toward an open, productive afternoon for the favorites." Canada Sports Betting: Portugal averaged 71% possession and 8.3 shots on target per game in qualifying.

What time and where is Portugal vs DR Congo today?

Portugal vs DR Congo kicks off at 1:00 PM ET on Wednesday June 17, 2026 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. It airs on FOX in English and Telemundo in Spanish. Group K also includes Uzbekistan and Colombia. This is Ronaldo's 6th World Cup at age 41 — widely expected to be his last. DR Congo are making their first World Cup appearance since 1974, when the country was known as Zaire.