After 22 Years with Portugal: Ronaldo Receives First International Red Card

A historic moment unfolded during Portugal's match against Ireland in the penultimate round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Cristiano Ronaldo received the first red card of his international career, which has spanned over 22 years. The incident occurred in the 61st minute, with the Republic of Ireland leading 2-0.

The dismissal followed a clash between Ronaldo and defender Dara O'Shea. Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg initially issued a yellow card to the Portuguese star, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened to review the footage. Following the VAR review, the decision was upgraded to a red card. This marked the first time Ronaldo had been sent off in his 226 appearances for the national team.

The Portuguese star had previously announced that the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico would be his final tournament. He has participated in five previous editions, starting with Germany 2006 and concluding with Qatar 2022. This red card incident now becomes another significant moment in the Portuguese legend's long farewell journey with the national team.