Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo received a red card during his country’s match against Northern Ireland on Thursday evening, in the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
In the 61st minute of the match, which was held at the Aviva Stadium, Ronaldo lost his temper while challenging for the ball inside the opponent’s penalty area and elbowed Irish defender Dara O’Shea. Initially, referee Glenn Nyberg showed a yellow card, but after reviewing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), he reversed his decision and issued a straight red card to the Portuguese captain.
This is Ronaldo’s first ever red card with the Portuguese national team in his career spanning more than 20 years.
كريستيانو رونالدو يغادر بالبطاقة الحمراء! 🟥
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The story didn’t end with Ronaldo’s dismissal; After being sent off, the Portuguese star didn’t miss the opportunity to make headlines with his controversial behavior. Ronaldo mocked and defiantly addressed the booing fans, sarcastically applauding the referee and giving a thumbs-up as he left the pitch.
Cameras captured his interaction with the hostile Irish fans, who chanted “Messi,” before he handed the captain’s armband to his teammate Bernardo Silva. He then exchanged a brief but respectful word with Ireland’s coach, Heimir Hallgrímsson, before departing the stadium.
The seriousness of this dismissal lies in its long-term repercussions. According to FIFA regulations, since the incident was classified as “violent conduct,” Ronaldo could face a suspension exceeding two matches.
Even more worrying is that any part of the suspension not served in the remaining qualifying matches will automatically carry over to the 2026 World Cup finals, potentially jeopardizing Ronaldo’s participation in the start of what is expected to be his final international tournament.
Portugal lost 2-0 to Ireland, but they are still top of the group with 10 points, and they urgently need to win the last round against Iceland to qualify directly for the World Cup. A defeat or a draw, coupled with a Hungary victory over Ireland, would mean that Ronaldo’s teammates will have to go through the European play-offs.
