Cristiano Ronaldo achieved another career milestone during Portugal’s 2-0 loss to Ireland in Dublin, but unlike his previous records, this one cost his team a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup — at least for now.
The Nations League champions needed a win to seal their place from Group F of the European Qualifiers, but they ran into a spirited Ireland once again, with Troy Parrott scoring a first-half brace that secured a memorable win for his side.
However, the most notable moment of the contest came in the second half when Cristiano Ronaldo took his frustrations out on Dara O’Shea, elbowing the defender in the back. After being shown a yellow card for his actions, VAR intervened, and the referee brandished a red card — the first of Ronaldo’s international career. His reaction, a sarcastic clap toward the Irish fans, summed up the heat of the moment.
Portugal still comfortably sit atop Group F with 10 points and face bottom-placed Armenia in the final match, but the equation has become a little hairy. A direct red card carries a three-game suspension in international football, meaning Cristiano Ronaldo could ostensibly miss two World Cup matches, even if Portugal qualify.
For a team that was seconds away from qualifying last month before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer to Hungary, the tension has only grown.
On a night built for Portugal’s celebration, it was Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card that changed everything.
