Dublin, Ireland – In a stunning turn of events, Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off after elbowing Ireland defender Dara O'Shea during Portugal's World Cup qualifying match on Thursday at Aviva Stadium. The incident occurred around the hour mark, with Ireland holding a surprising 2-0 lead.
The sequence of events unfolded as Ronaldo and O'Shea jostled in the penalty area. With the ball out of reach, Ronaldo swung his right elbow into O'Shea's back, leading the Irish defender to fall to the ground. Initially, the referee issued a yellow card, but following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, the decision was overturned, and Ronaldo was shown a straight red card.
Ronaldo's reaction to the red card was met with a hostile response from the home crowd. As he exited the pitch, he sarcastically applauded the fans, who responded with jeers and mocking gestures. This marks Ronaldo's first sending-off while playing for the Portugal national team.
The match itself was proving to be a difficult one for Portugal even before Ronaldo's dismissal. Troy Parrott scored twice in the first half, giving Ireland a 2-0 lead and reviving their hopes of World Cup qualification. Parrott's goals came in the 17th minute, a close-range header from a corner, and on the stroke of halftime, cutting in from the left and driving a shot past the goalkeeper.
With Ronaldo's red card, Portugal's chances of a comeback were further diminished. Already trailing by two goals, they were forced to play the final half-hour a man down. Despite their efforts, they were unable to break down Ireland's defense, and the match ended in a 2-0 defeat.
The loss and the red card leave Portugal in a precarious position in their World Cup qualifying group. They still lead the group but missed a chance to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup. They now face Armenia at home on Sunday and will need to win to guarantee automatic qualification. Ronaldo will be suspended for that crucial match.
Adding to the potential consequences, Ronaldo risks a two-game ban for the sending off. This could mean he would miss Portugal's first match of the World Cup tournament if they qualify.
