Key Takeaways:
- Cristiano Ronaldo was dismissed with a straight red card on his 226th Portugal appearance in Dublin on Thursday
- Ireland secured a 2-0 victory over Portugal to boost their World Cup qualification hopes
- Portugal must now face Armenia on Sunday without Ronaldo, whose suspension could carry into the World Cup
Controversy as Ronaldo Sees Red in Dublin
Portugal’s trip to the Aviva Stadium took a disastrous turn on Thursday, as Cristiano Ronaldo was shown his first ever international red card during a surprising 2-0 defeat to Ireland. The incident occurred on the hour mark, when Ronaldo, frustrated by a poor first half from Portugal, lashed out at Dara O’Shea with an elbow following a failed attempt to reach a cross. Initially booked for the offence, the caution was upgraded to a red card after a VAR review, marking a dramatic first in the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s 226-match international career.
In his 226th senior international appearance, Cristiano Ronaldo has been shown a red card for the first time 🟥
Before the match, he said he will try to be on his best behavior 😅
🎥 @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/41uJp9prIv
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 13, 2025
Ronaldo’s dismissal seemed to incite disbelief both on and off the pitch. The forward reacted to the crowd with a sarcastic applause while exiting and strayed towards the Irish dugout, requiring intervention from Ricardo Carvalho as tempers flared. The act could have severe ramifications: if Portugal qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Ronaldo is set to miss at least the opening match due to the standard two-game ban for straight red cards in international play. The final decision on the length of his suspension is yet to be confirmed.
Managerial Defence and Pre-Match Irony
Defending his star, Portugal manager Roberto Martinez insisted post-match that Ronaldo’s action lacked intent: “Of course, we spoke,” Martinez said. “I think it’s difficult for a player like Cristiano, who’s in the box. And today he had two defenders constantly in physical contact.
“There’s no violence. He tries to push the defender away and he was unlucky that the VAR… the angle of the images [makes it look] worse than what happened. It’s Ronaldo’s first red card for the national team, it’s incredible.”
Earlier, Ronaldo had addressed the media in Dublin, expressing his enthusiasm for playing in front of the local fans: “I really like the fans here,” he said in a press conference. “The support they give to their national team is lovely. For me, it’s a pleasure to play here again, I hope they don’t boo me too much tomorrow – I swear that I’m going to try to be a good boy.”
Parrott’s Double Brings Ireland Closer to World Cup Return
Ireland delivered a major boost to their World Cup ambitions on the night. Troy Parrott emerged as the hero, scoring both goals that secured the three points and propelled the hosts within one point of Hungary, ahead of Sunday’s critical qualifier.
Parrott opened the scoring on 16 minutes with a close-range header and added a second prior to half-time, firing through Ruben Dias’s legs past Portugal keeper Diogo Costa. Post-match, Parrott described his brace as the “best night of his entire life” and expressed his elation at Ireland’s important win in their pursuit of a first World Cup appearance since 2002.
The Irish defence, buoyed by their advantage and aided by Ronaldo’s absence, held firm to thwart further threats from the likes of Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, and Rafael Leao. Reflecting on Ireland’s performance, winning manager Heimir Hallgrimsson praised his side’s “hard work, discipline, focus and, most of all, good teamwork.”
Reaction and Qualification Implications
Assessing the incident, Hallgrimsson noted: “He [Cristiano Ronaldo] lost his focus a little bit and maybe it was the fans as well. He was frustrated and reacted in a way he knows he shouldn’t.” He reiterated that responsibility for the red card lay with Ronaldo’s “silly decision to attack our player.”
Ireland’s result means their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are very much alive as they prepare to face Hungary on Sunday. Portugal, meanwhile, will be without their captain for their last qualifier against Armenia and could yet lose him for the start of the tournament proper if they seal their passage.
