Cristiano Ronaldo was shown his first-ever red card for Portugal in 22 years during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Ireland on Thursday night, putting the 40-year-old legend at risk of missing the opening match of next year’s World Cup—should Portugal secure qualification.

What Happened During the Match

The incident occurred in the second half when Ronaldo, while turning, swung his right elbow into defender Dara O’Shea’s back. The referee initially issued a yellow card, but after a pitchside VAR review, it was upgraded to a straight red.

As he exited the pitch, Ronaldo appeared visibly frustrated. Irish fans jeered, and Ronaldo responded with a wry smile, clapping sarcastically and giving a double thumbs-up toward the crowd.

Ireland went on to pull off a surprise 2–0 victory

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