Ronaldo Sent Off In Portugal’s Defeat To Ireland
Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in his international career during Portugal’s 2–0 loss to the Republic of Ireland in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. The incident occurred in the 61st minute when Ronaldo elbowed defender Dara O’Shea off the ball. The referee initially showed a yellow card but upgraded it to a straight red after a VAR review. The match marked Ronaldo’s 226th appearance for Portugal.
Defeat Complicates Portugal’s Qualification Path
Ireland secured the win through two early goals from Troy Parrott, leaving Portugal’s automatic qualification hopes dependent on their final group match against Armenia. Portugal, the reigning European champions, had expected to seal their World Cup spot earlier but must now avoid dropping points to keep from slipping into the play-offs.
Suspension Likely For Ronaldo
Under FIFA rules, Ronaldo will miss at least the next qualifier, and depending on disciplinary review, could begin the World Cup with a suspension. Portugal manager Roberto Martínez called the red card “harsh” and claimed the challenge appeared worse in slow-motion replay than in real time.
