Ronaldo Sees First-Ever Red Card for Portugal as Ireland Stun in 2–0 Victory
A rare dismissal for Cristiano Ronaldo turns a crucial World Cup qualifier on its head and puts pressure on Portugal's campaign
Match Turns Dramatic in Dublin
Cristiano Ronaldo suffered a shock first in his long international career — a straight red card — as Portugal slumped to a 2–0 defeat against the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup qualifier in Dublin.
The incident occurred just after the hour mark when Ronaldo caught Irish defender Dara O’Shea with an elbow away from the ball. Initially reaching for a yellow card, the referee upgraded to red after a VAR check. It was the first time Ronaldo had ever been sent off while playing for Portugal.
Ireland was already in control of the match with two first-half goals from Troy Parrott. Down to 10 men, Portugal pushed forward but could not break through a disciplined Irish defence.
Ronaldo now faces a possible multi-match suspension, putting in doubt his availability for the upcoming qualifiers and possibly the opener of the 2026 World Cup. The result raises Ireland’s hopes while leaving Portugal with urgent questions as the campaign continues.
