In a dramatic turn of events during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier on Thursday night, Portugal’s long-time talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, was sent off after he was shown the first red card of his senior international career in his 226th appearance for the national team.
The incident, which occurred in the second half of Portugal’s surprise 2-0 defeat to Ireland in Dublin, has placed the 40-year-old superstar in serious jeopardy of being banned for the opening game—or potentially more—of the World Cup next year, provided Portugal secures qualification.
The Incident and Heated Exit
The moment of controversy arose around the hour mark during a tussle with Ireland defender Dara O’Shea. Frustrated with the marking, Ronaldo spun around and swung his right elbow into the back of O’Shea’s back.
- VAR Intervention: The referee initially issued a yellow card, but after a video review at the pitchside monitor, the decision was quickly upgraded to a red card for violent conduct.
- Sarcastic Reaction: Upon being ordered off the field, Ronaldo displayed a wry look and was met with loud jeers and mockery from the Irish fans. He then stopped, looked directly at the crowd, clapped his hands, and raised two thumbs up in an apparent sarcastic gesture as he walked off, highlighting the high emotional tension of the night.
The loss to Ireland, marked by two first-half goals, leaves Portugal leading Group F with 10 points, two ahead of Hungary and three ahead of Ireland, making their final qualifier crucial.
FIFA Rules Threaten World Cup Start
The immediate consequence of the red card is a mandatory one-game ban for Ronaldo. He will miss Portugal’s critical final qualifier against hosts Armenia on Sunday. A victory in this match is essential to secure Portugal’s place in the FIFA World Cup, set to be played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The more significant danger comes from the potential extended punishment under the FIFA Disciplinary Code. According to the rules:
- A ban of “at least two matches for serious foul play” must be imposed.
- The ban must be “at least three matches for violent conduct” or “at least three matches or an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing.”
Since Ronaldo’s action was classified as violent conduct, he faces a minimum three-match suspension. Critically, FIFA bans apply only to competitive games and cannot be served in pre-tournament exhibition matches. If the Disciplinary Committee imposes a ban longer than one match (the Armenian game), the remaining suspension would carry over to Portugal’s next official competitive matches—which, upon qualification, would be the World Cup group stage games.
Ronaldo, who previously received 12 red cards in his club career, with the last one for Al Nassr against Al Hilal last year, has been clear about his ambition to play in a record sixth World Cup tournament next year. The final verdict from FIFA will determine whether he can start that campaign from Matchday One. The competition’s draw will take place on December 5 in Washington DC.