Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup hopes took a major blow after he received a straight red card in Portugal’s 2–0 defeat against the Republic of Ireland in a crucial European qualifier. The incident happened after VAR reviewed an off-the-ball clash, leading to Ronaldo’s dismissal — a rare moment in his long career.
Portugal struggled throughout the match, and Ireland capitalized with a strong performance that boosted their own qualification hopes. The defeat, combined with Ronaldo’s red card, could result in a multi-match suspension, meaning he might miss one or two of Portugal’s opening group games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This moment has sparked debates across Europe about discipline, age pressure, and whether Portugal rely too heavily on Ronaldo heading into the World Cup.
