In a shocking turn of events, Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese footballer, has been sent off for the first time in his entire international career.
The 40-year-old football icon, who recently announced his retirement, was handed a red card during the World Cup qualifier match between Portugal and Ireland on November 13, 2025. This unexpected moment has stunned both fans and football experts around the world.
The incident occurred in Dublin in the 61st minute when Ronaldo deliberately elbowed Irish defender Dara O’Shea in an off-the-ball action. Initially, the referee, Glen Neberg, showed Ronaldo a yellow card, but after a quick VAR review, the decision was changed, and the referee showed him a red card sending him off the pitch.
At the time of the red card, Portugal was already trailing 0-2, following goals from Troy Parrott for Ireland.
This is a first for Ronaldo in international football, even though he’s been shown 13 red cards during his club career. He has scored a remarkable 143 goals in 226 matches for Portugal.
FIFA regulations state that violent conduct like this could lead to a three-match suspension, meaning Ronaldo could miss the World Cup opener and possibly the second match as well, potentially shaking up Portugal’s tournament plans.
In the same match, Ireland stunned everyone by defeating Portugal 2-0, dramatically improving their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup without needing to go through the playoffs.
