Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup Dreams on the Line After Red Card Against Ireland Could Lead to Extended Ban

CRISTIANO RONALDO is at risk of missing Portugal’s opening game of the 2026 World Cup after receiving a straight red card on Thursday.

was playing in ‘s World Cup qualifier against the when he got into a tussle with defender Dara O’Shea.

Cristiano Ronaldo saw red after Elbowing Ireland’s Dara O’SheaCredit: Getty An initial yellow card was upgraded to a straight red after an intervention from VARCredit: Sportsfile Ronaldo was not gracious following the decision, sarcastically giving the fans a thumbs upCredit: PA

Ronaldo, 40, was initially given a yellow card after .

But referee Glenn Nyberg upgraded the card to a straight red after being sent to the monitor by .

While that card will certainly rule him out from Portugal‘s final qualifier against Armenia on Sunday, it could also have implications for their opening game of the tournament proper.

Red cards in international can be upgraded to a multiple-game suspension at the discretion of a disciplinary committee.

And given the violent nature of his sending off, it would not be surprising to see that discretion used to turn his sending off into a two-game ban.

In that event, and presuming Portugal secure automatic promotion by securing a result against Armenia, then Ronaldo would also miss the opening game of the .

His antics outside of the match’s action won’t have done him any favours when the incident is looked back upon either.

Just hours before kick-off in Dublin, Ronaldo had ironically promised to be a “good boy” on his return to the Irish capital.

He said: “I really like the fans here. 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.”

There is existing bad blood between the icon and Ireland for reasons that both sides struggle to articulate.

Ireland captain for example said he “doesn’t know” why Ronaldo celebrated Ruben Neves’ late winner for Portugal in front of Jake O’Brien’s face when the teams met in October.

The striker had a penalty saved by in the game in Lisbon, before Neves scored a 91st-minute header to hand ‘s side a 1-0 win.

He also bizarrely called for the stadium to “boo” him again.

He was jeered every time he touched the ball in the 2021 goalless draw between the two sides in the same ground.

While winking, he added: “I repeat, I hope that no [one] boo[s] again against me tomorrow.

“It will take the pressure off other players. What I want most is to enjoy myself. It’s not decisive but we know that with a victory, we qualify. We want to finish it off now.”

If he was going for ‘good boy,’ he missed the mark by some distance.

Ronaldo pretended to cry towards O’Shea following his reaction to the incidentCredit: Sportsfile He also exchanged words with Ireland boss Heimir HallgrimssonCredit: Sportsfile

Ronaldo faux cried towards O’Shea for his reaction to the jab in the back, before sending the ref and the home crowd a sarcastic clap and double thumbs up after being shown red.

He then seemed to exchange heated words with Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson on his way off the field .

Missing even a single game at would come at an especially heartbreaking time for the forward considering it will be his last opportunity to win more silverware with his country.

Ronaldo , with the 40-year-old set to make more history with a record sixth World Cup competition, alongside .