Moutoussamy who locked down Cristiano; Indian-origin man behind Congo's halt of Portugal

Houston: African nation DR Congo have scripted history at the World Cup by holding a formidable Portugal side to a 1-1 draw. In doing so, Congo secured both their first-ever goal and their first-ever point in World Cup history. When João Neves put Portugal ahead in just the sixth minute, fans anticipated a flurry of goals. However, a resilient Congo fought back, finding an equaliser through Yoane Wissa in the dying moments of the first half.

The 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, playing in his sixth World Cup, featured for the full 90 minutes but struggled to make a huge impact on the game. With this match, Ronaldo equalled Argentina's Lionel Messi for the record of appearing in the most World Cup tournaments. Despite boasting a world-class line-up featuring superstars like Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Ruben Dias, Portugal were frustrated by Congo’s stubborn defense.

The Tamil connection

For Indian football fans, the biggest highlight of the match was the stellar performance of Congo's midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy. Carrying a surname of Tamil origin (muthu meaning pearl, sami meaning lord), he has drawn massive spotlight. While born in France, Moutoussamy's mother is Congolese and his father is an Indo-Guadeloupean of Tamil descent, tracking ancestry back to South Indian labourers who migrated to the Caribbean in the 19th century.

The 29-year-old, who currently plays for Greek club Atromitos, has been an integral part of the Congo national team since 2019. He played a decisive role in Congo's historic draw by anchoring the defensive midfield against Portugal’s renowned attack. Operating dynamically across the center, Moutoussamy recorded an impressive 84% pass accuracy alongside critical defensive interventions.

Journey to the World Cup stage

Moutoussamy was born in Paris, France on August 12, 1996. After navigating through French youth academy setups at Lyon and Nantes, he switched international allegiance to his mother’s homeland, Congo.

Since making his senior debut for the Leopards in 2019, he has established himself as a highly reliable linchpin in midfield. He featured prominently during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has been a constant presence for head coach Sebastien Desabre throughout the qualifying campaign, leading up to this monumental World Cup performance on the global stage.