Cristiano Ronaldo receives first red card for Portugal in defeat Por Luís Henrique Costa
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Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in 226 games for Portugal this Thursday (13). The move occurred in the 61st minute of the game against the Republic of Ireland, valid for the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. After elbowing Dara O’Shea, the referee changed the yellow card to red with the help of VAR.
The match, played at the Aviva Stadium, in Dublin, ended in a 2-0 Irish victory. Troy Parrott scored both goals for the home team. With the result, Portugal lost the chance to guarantee an early place in the World Cup.
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Expulsion bid details
The incident occurred during a ball dispute outside the area. Ronaldo threw his arm in the face of Irish defender Dara O’Shea.
The referee initially showed a yellow card. After review on the monitor, the punishment was changed to a red card for violent conduct.
Ronaldo left the field sarcastically applauding the local fans. The 40-year-old player is subject to an automatic suspension and could be out for up to two games.
F Group Situation
Portugal remains at the top of group F with two points ahead of Hungary. A draw against Armenia on Sunday(16), already guarantees direct classification.
The defeat interrupted the Portuguese team’s streak of four consecutive victories in the qualifiers. Ireland, already eliminated, achieved just their second victory of the campaign.
Ronaldo’s expulsion history
The red card was the 14th in the striker’s professional career. The other 13 occurred at clubs, seven of which were for Real Madrid.
For the Portuguese national team, Ronaldo had never been sent off until the game in Dublin. The record of 226 appearances for the senior national team remains active despite the punishment.
Immediate repercussion
Roberto Martínez, Portugal coach, avoided commenting directly on the expulsion. The coach highlighted Ireland’s strength at home.
The Portuguese Football Federation is still evaluating whether it will appeal the suspension. If he confirms two games, Ronaldo could miss his debut at the 2026 World Cup, if Portugal qualifies.
Goals scored by Troy Parrott
- First goal in the 38th minute of the first half
- Second goal in the 73rd minute, with Portugal having one less player
- Both goals came from counterattacks
- Parrott has four goals in the qualifiers
The Portuguese team returns to campo on Sunday against Armenia, in Lisbon. The game decides the direct place in the World Cup, which will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
