Dublin, Ireland - In a stunning turn of events at the Aviva Stadium, the Republic of Ireland secured a memorable 2-0 victory against Portugal in their World Cup qualifier, a match overshadowed by a red card issued to Cristiano Ronaldo. Following the match, Ireland's manager, Heimir Hallgrímsson, hinted that pre-match comments might have subtly influenced the superstar's behavior, leading to his dismissal.
The game saw Troy Parrott score twice in the first half, putting Ireland in a commanding position. However, the major talking point arose in the second half when Ronaldo was sent off for swinging an elbow at Irish defender Dara O'Shea. Initially receiving a yellow card, the decision was upgraded to a red following a VAR review.
Hallgrímsson had previously spoken about Ronaldo's influence on referees, particularly during the reverse fixture in Portugal. "In Portugal, he was not only controlling the referee, he was controlling the whole stadium," Hallgrímsson stated before the game, expressing hope that the atmosphere at the Aviva would create a different dynamic.
After the game, when questioned about a possible exchange with Ronaldo after the red card, Hallgrímsson revealed the Portuguese captain had complimented him on "putting pressure on the referee". The Ireland manager added, "It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card. It had nothing to do with me – unless I got into his head". He characterized the incident as "a moment of a little silliness" from Ronaldo.
Ronaldo's dismissal means he will miss Portugal's final World Cup qualifier against Armenia. Furthermore, depending on the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's assessment, he could face a ban of up to three matches, potentially causing him to miss the start of the 2026 World Cup should Portugal qualify. FIFA's Disciplinary Code stipulates a three-game ban for "assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting or hitting an opponent".
John O'Shea, assistant head coach for the Republic of Ireland and former teammate of Ronaldo at Manchester United, had expressed confidence prior to the match that Ireland could contain the Portuguese star. O'Shea had noted that Ireland managed to stop him in the previous game, emphasizing the importance of a strong defensive unit.
The victory is a significant boost for Ireland's World Cup qualification hopes. With the win, Ireland now travels to Hungary with a chance of securing a play-off spot. However, they will have to do so without Evan Ferguson, who has been ruled out due to an ankle injury. Mark Sykes is also unavailable due to a leg injury.
Meanwhile, France has already secured their place at the 2026 World Cup after a dominant win over Ukraine.
Ronaldo, who is now 40 years old, has previously stated that he intends for the 2026 World Cup to be his last. He continues to perform at a high level, having scored 10 goals in 11 appearances for Al-Nassr this season. Despite being named football's first billionaire, with a net worth estimated at €1.2 billion, Ronaldo's passion for the game remains undiminished. Former teammate, Fraizer Campbell, has even suggested that Ronaldo could potentially play until he's 50, given his dedication and physical condition.
The Republic of Ireland's victory over Portugal marks a new chapter in Irish football folklore. The team now faces a crucial match against Hungary, with their World Cup dreams hanging in the balance.
