Cristiano Ronaldo is facing the prospect of a suspension that could force him to miss Portugal’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after receiving the first red card of his international career. The incident occurred during Portugal’s 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland on Thursday, where Ronaldo, in his 226th international appearance, was sent off for elbowing Irish defender Dara O’Shea in the 61st minute. Initially shown a yellow card, the booking was upgraded to red after a VAR review at the pitchside monitor.
This marks Ronaldo’s first-ever red card for Portugal, although he has been sent off 13 times at club level. The automatic one-game ban will rule him out of Portugal’s upcoming match against Armenia on Sunday. A victory in that game would secure Portugal’s qualification for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA regulations indicate that Ronaldo could face a minimum two-match ban for serious foul play, with potential extensions of up to three games for violent conduct such as elbowing.
Portugal’s coach Roberto Martinez came to his captain’s defence, saying the red card seemed harsh and that the action looked worse than it truly was. He argued that Ronaldo was being held and pushed inside the box and was trying to break free, and that camera angles distorted the situation. However, Martinez accepted the referee’s decision despite expressing frustration over what he described as theatrics from the Irish defender.
Portugal had entered the match knowing that a win would guarantee their place at the World Cup, but instead suffered an unexpected defeat thanks to two goals from Ireland’s Troy Parrott. The result leaves Portugal two points ahead of Hungary in Group F. Meanwhile, the red card adds tension to Ronaldo’s push toward participating in his sixth World Cup.
In the buildup to the match, Ronaldo had already been under scrutiny due to past controversies between the two teams. Irish supporters had previously accused him of influencing officials, and Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson had reportedly requested the referee to remain firm and avoid being swayed by Ronaldo. After being dismissed, Ronaldo responded with what appeared to be a sarcastic clap and double thumbs-up to the jeering crowd before exchanging words with Hallgrimsson. The Ireland coach later said Ronaldo had complimented him for pressuring the referee, adding that the dismissal was entirely due to Ronaldo’s on-field actions.
Hallgrimsson downplayed any further post-match confrontation, describing Ronaldo’s behaviour as “a little silliness” and saying there was nothing more to discuss. As Portugal now turns their focus to the Armenia match, the team faces the possibility of starting the 2026 World Cup without their iconic captain if FIFA imposes a multi-game ban.
