Cristiano Ronaldo receives his first-ever Portugal red card as Ireland surge to a 2-0 lead in a tense World Cup qualifier in Dublin on Thursday night.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of steering Portugal to a crucial World Cup qualifying win collapsed dramatically on Thursday November 13, 2025, after he was sent off during a tense match against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
The incident unfolded just after the hour mark at the Aviva Stadium, with Portugal already pushing to recover from a two-goal deficit. Ireland’s Troy Parrott had stunned the visitors with a pair of well-taken goals, giving the home crowd belief that a rare and famous victory was within reach.
That belief surged when Ronaldo was shown a straight red card for elbowing defender Dara O’Shea during an off-the-ball exchange. The referee acted immediately, drawing loud approval from Irish supporters. Ronaldo reacted with visible frustration, clapping sarcastically toward the crowd before heading directly down the tunnel.
His dismissal — the first of his long Portugal career — left the team to finish the match with 10 men and facing an even steeper challenge. The forward’s exit also means he will serve a suspension, adding further complications for Portugal as they navigate the final stretch of World Cup qualifying.
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The match had already been slipping away from Roberto Martinez’s side. Portugal struggled to contain Ireland’s aggressive pressing and swift counterattacks, while the home team fed off the energy of a packed stadium eager for a rare triumph over one of Europe’s football powerhouses.
Ronaldo’s record-setting presence — Thursday marked his 226th appearance for the national team — had been expected to help settle the side after their slow start. Instead, his red card became the defining moment of the evening, shifting momentum even further toward the Irish.
For Ireland, the performance will be seen as a major step forward in their campaign, reflecting both discipline at the back and sharp execution in attack. For Portugal, the loss and the suspension of their star forward raise pressure ahead of upcoming fixtures that will determine their path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The defeat and Ronaldo’s dramatic exit are likely to spark intense debate across Portugal and beyond, as the team regroups and seeks to regain control of its qualifying destiny.
Africa Daily News, New York
