The defensive midfielder with Tamil roots, Samuel Moutoussamy, played a pivotal role as DR Congo earned a stunning 1-1 draw against Portugal in their opening Group K match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday (June 17).

The 29-year-old was named in the starting XI and completed the full 90 minutes, producing a composed midfield display against one of the tournament favourites.

Portugal took an early lead through Joao Neves in the sixth minute, but Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa restored parity with the final touch of the first half.

Despite not registering a goal or an assist, Moutoussamy was instrumental in DR Congo’s performance, finishing with an 84 per cent pass-completion rate and making two tackles. He was key in keeping the world-famous striker Ronaldo quiet, as the African side frustrated the Portuguese attack.

Tamil roots and international journey

Born in Paris to a Congolese mother and an Indo-Guadeloupean father of Tamil origin, Moutoussamy’s rise to the World Cup stage reflects a career built across several European leagues.

The midfielder began his football journey at Meudon AS before progressing through the youth systems of Montrouge FC 92 and Olympique Lyonnais. He moved to Nantes, where he made his senior debut in 2017 and went on to make 144 appearances for the French club.

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A loan spell at Dutch side Fortuna Sittard was followed by a move to Turkish Super Lig outfit Sivasspor in 2024. After a season in Turkey, he joined Greek club Atromitos, where he enjoyed an impressive campaign, making 35 appearances in all competitions and scoring three goals in the Greek Super League.

Key figure for the Leopards

Although eligible to represent France, Moutoussamy chose to play for DR Congo, a country with which he has maintained strong personal ties through frequent visits to his mother’s native Kinshasa.

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He switched his international allegiance to the Leopards and made his senior debut in 2019. Since then, he has established himself as a mainstay in the national team, earning 59 caps and representing the country at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

His assured display against Portugal underlined his importance to the Congolese side as they seek to make an impact on the global stage at the World Cup.