Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo might not be able to play in Portugal’s first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This comes after he received his first-ever red card in an international game. The incident happened during a 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland on November 13, 2025, when Ronaldo elbowed Irish defender Dara O’Shea.
The referee initially gave him a yellow card for the action. However, after a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the decision was changed to a red card. This was the first time Ronaldo has been sent off in his 226 games playing for Portugal. In his club career, he has been shown a red card 13 times.
Because of the automatic one-match ban that comes with a red card, Ronaldo will miss the next qualifying game against Armenia. If Portugal wins that match, they will secure their place in the World Cup. The total length of Ronaldo’s suspension will depend on FIFA’s disciplinary rules. According to these rules, serious foul play results in at least a two-match ban, while violent conduct, such as elbowing, leads to a minimum suspension of three matches.
Friendly matches played before a major tournament do not count towards serving a suspension. Therefore, if Portugal qualifies for the World Cup, Ronaldo could miss important games, including the team’s opening match of the tournament.
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