Ronaldo in danger of missing World Cup games after first-ever red card

Cristiano Ronaldo’s road to what could be his final World Cup has taken an unexpected twist after he was shown the first red card of his international career.

The incident, which came during Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland, now places the 40-year-old in danger of missing key World Cup fixtures depending on FIFA’s ruling.

Ronaldo’s dismissal came after an elbow on Ireland defender Dara O’Shea, initially punished with a yellow card before VAR urged the referee to take another look.

The upgraded decision resulted in a straight red card, Ronaldo’s first in 226 appearances for Portugal. Coach Roberto Martinez defended his captain, insisting the action “looked worse than it actually is,” but he acknowledged the referee’s decision and its potential consequences.

As it stands, Ronaldo will serve an automatic one-match suspension when Portugal host Armenia, a game that could seal their World Cup qualification if they secure victory. However, FIFA’s disciplinary guidelines complicate matters.

A two-match ban is mandatory for serious foul play, while violent conduct requires at least three games or more, depending on intent.

With pre-World Cup friendlies not counting towards suspensions, Ronaldo’s punishment could carry directly into the tournament. Portugal’s fate, and Ronaldo’s availability, now hinge on both their result against Armenia and FIFA’s final judgment.

Ireland’s 2-0 victory, sealed by a Troy Parrott brace, not only ended Portugal’s unbeaten run in the group but also tightened the qualification battle.

Portugal still lead Group F by two points, yet their slip-up has opened the door for Hungary and Ireland, who face each other in a decisive clash.

A win for Portugal against Armenia will maintain control of their destiny, but any dropped points could force them into the play-offs, where Ronaldo’s potential ban would carry even greater weight.

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson revealed Ronaldo sarcastically complimented him for “putting pressure on the referee,” but insisted the decision was entirely down to the Portuguese star’s actions.

He also praised his team’s performance and their supporters, believing Ireland could have scored even more.