Portuguese soccer star manages to secure a suspended punishment, keeping him eligible for future games.
Cristiano Ronaldo will, for now, retain his eligibility for Portugal’s opening two matches in the 2026 World Cup. However, the forward must maintain proper conduct in the coming months to avoid a possible suspension stemming from his ejection during the match against Ireland in the penultimate round of Qualifiers.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee sanctioned the Portuguese player with a three-game ban for elbowing defender Dara O’Shea. However, the Al-Nassr star is only required to sit out one official match, which he already missed, against Andorra.
The remaining two matches are considered suspended sanctions. This means Ronaldo will not be required to serve them unless he commits another serious offence similar to the one that led to his expulsion.
The athlete is now under a one-year “probationary period”. Provided he avoids further aggression during this time, the sanctions will be lifted, leaving him clear to participate in the World Cup from the very start.
The Incident During the Qualifiers
Cristiano Ronaldo experienced his first red card during his illustrious career with the Portugal national team in a 2-0 loss to Ireland. The incident occurred after an aerial challenge, where he struck O’Shea on the back with an elbow, away from the play.
The Portuguese star was initially handed only a yellow card by the referee. However, the VAR advised a review, leading to the decision being upgraded to a red card.
The minimum penalty is a three-match suspension, which was duly applied in his case. Although Portugal has at least two friendlies scheduled during FIFA’s March international window, Ronaldo will need to serve his suspension in an official competition, as the red card occurred in such a match.
CR7 in the World Cup
Portugal secured their World Cup spot in the final round of Qualifiers, earning their position as one of the seeded teams. The group stage draw will take place on December 5 in Washington, D.C., United States.
The tournament holds added significance for Cristiano Ronaldo. Beyond confirming that it will be his last appearance for Portugal before retiring, this event will mark yet another historic milestone in his career.
The Portuguese star will participate in his sixth tournament, setting a new record in the history of World Cups.