Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published on Thursday, 13 November 2025, 23:30 / Updated on Thursday, 13 November 2025 23:40
Cristiano Ronaldo (40), the Portugal captain, was sent off in the 61st minute for an elbow in Ireland's 2-0 win in Dublin in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. It is the first red card for the Lusitanian superstar in his national career.
Portugal captain lost his temper: Cristiano Ronaldo elbowed Ispwich centre-back Dara O'Shea in the back during a duel in the box. Initially, the referee Nyberg only showed the “yellow”, but after the VAR check, Al-Nassr's player was sent to the booths.
PHOTO. Cristiano Ronaldo, eliminated in Ireland – Portugal for hitting O'Shea: flurry of unsportsmanlike gestures at the Aviva Stadium
With the score 2-0 for Ireland, in the 61st minute, Cristiano Ronaldo elbowed Dara O'Shea in the back in a duel without the ball. Immediately after hitting the Irishman, Cristiano Ronaldo put his hands to his eyes and made a sign that meant that the Irish defender was pulling away and that he would not have hit him.
The fans at the Aviva Stadium roared, and the “central” went to VAR. The verdict was the Portuguese's dismissal, and the Irish in the stands burst into cheers, imitating the Portuguese's gesture after the foul on O'Shea.
Cristiano Ronaldo continued with the inappropriate gestures and ironically applauded the Irish fans, showing them another sign: that everything is fine.
Duel with repetition between Cristiano Ronaldo and Dara O'Shea: they also contracted 4 years ago
It was not the first incident between Cristiano Ronaldo and Dara O'Shea. In a 2022 World Cup qualifier in Portugal, Cristiano was preparing to take a penalty kick in the 15th minute. The Irish defender moved the ball from the penalty spot to the Portuguese as the referee tried to clear the players from the box, at which point Ronaldo lunged and pushed O'Shea.
Ronaldo was then not sanctioned for his gesture, but the Lusitanian missed the penalty. Ireland even took the advantage in the booths then, thanks to the goal scored by John Egan in the 45th minute, but Portugal managed to prevail in the end with the score 2-1, thanks to a “double” signed by the same Ronaldo, in the 89th and 90th+6th minutes.
