Cristiano Ronaldo was dismissed during Portugal’s 2–0 loss to the Republic of Ireland after striking an opponent with his elbow. The forward, who had insisted before the match that he would be on his best behaviour following warnings from Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson, saw his composure unravel just after the hour mark. Portugal were already struggling, having conceded two first-half goals to former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott.
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The incident occurred in the 62nd minute when Dara O’Shea pulled Ronaldo to the ground, prompting the 40-year-old to lash out. Referee Glenn Nyberg initially issued a yellow card, but after a VAR review he upgraded it to a red. Ronaldo reacted with a crying gesture towards O’Shea as he left the pitch, while the home crowd at the Aviva Stadium continued to boo him. He also exchanged a few terse words with Hallgrímsson on his way down the tunnel.
Portugal’s defeat means they missed the chance to secure qualification for next year’s World Cup in the United States. Ronaldo will now be suspended for their crucial final qualifier against Armenia on Sunday, and depending on disciplinary measures, he may also be absent for their opening match next summer should Portugal reach the tournament. The setback has added pressure to a side expected to navigate their group comfortably.
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Tensions between the teams were already high after last month’s meeting, during which Ireland felt Ronaldo had influenced key decisions. Their manager suggested the forward had “controlled the referee” and even swayed the atmosphere inside the stadium. Those concerns resurfaced in Dublin, but this time it was Ronaldo’s dismissal—not his influence—that proved decisive.
