Cristiano Ronaldo is at serious risk of being banned for at least the first game of the 2026 World Cup after being shown a red card for the first time in his record-setting international career as Portugal slumped to a 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland.
Ronaldo was shown his marching orders for violent conduct in the 61st minute after elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea away from the ball. After an initial yellow card, the referee was urged to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee and upgraded the decision to a red card.
It marked Ronaldo’s first red card for Portugal in what was his 226th appearance, a record in men’s international soccer. He has been sent off 13 times at club level.
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The Al Nassr forward will serve a mandatory one-game ban imposed for any red card when Portugal host Armenia on Sunday knowing a win will secure a place at the World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA disciplinary rules require its judges to impose a ban of “at least two matches for serious foul play.”
The ban should be “at least three matches for violent conduct” or “at least three matches or an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing.”
A FIFA ban would apply to competitive games and could not be served in pre-tournament exhibitions.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez came to Ronaldo’s defence following the game.
“The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games — I think that just deserves credit — and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team.
“He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed and obviously when he tries to get away from the defender…
“I think the action looks worse than what it actually is, I don’t think it’s an elbow, I think it’s a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.
“The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the press conference yesterday, your coach was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced, and then a big centre-half falls on the floor so dramatically at the turn of Cristiano’s body.”
Portugal went into the game knowing a win would secure their place at the 2026 World Cup, but Ireland stunned the visitors with two goals by Troy Parrott.
Portugal still lead Hungary by two points in Group F, meaning a win against Armenia will be enough for Ronaldo to reach his sixth World Cup.
In the buildup to the game, the Portugal captain had promised to be a “good boy” in anticipation of facing a tide of boos at the Aviva Stadium.
In the reverse fixture between the teams, Ronaldo celebrated Rúben Neves’ last-gasp winner in the face of Ireland defender Jake O’Brien. And Ireland fans accused the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star of having an undue influence over the match official on that occasion.
Ahead of the return match, Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson had urged Swedish match official Glenn Nyberg not to allow him to referee the game.
Ronaldo clapped his hands and raised two thumbs up in an apparent sarcastic gesture while being jeered and mocked by Ireland fans following his dismissal on Thursday. He spoke to Hallgrimsson pointedly as he made his way off the pitch and asked afterwards what he had said, Hallgrimsson revealed: “He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee.
“It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card. It had nothing to do with me — unless I got into his head.”
Asked further if he had spoken to Ronaldo after the final whistle, Hallgrimsson added: “No, I think we spoke enough when he came off.
“There was nothing to speak about. This was just a moment of a little silliness from him, I would say.”
Information from The Associated Press, PA and ESPN Research was used in this report.