Cristiano Ronaldo sent off with first-ever Portugal red card - and he could miss their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener

Cristiano Ronaldo has seen almost everything across two decades at the pinnacle of world football. But on Thursday night in Dublin, the Portugal captain experienced a first he would have preferred to avoid, as it could now cost him at next year's 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 40-year-old was shown his first-ever international red card after elbowing Dara O'Shea, leaving his country to finish their crucial qualifier against Ireland with 10 men.

It raises the real possibility that he could now miss the opening match of the World Cup, providing Portugal confirm their place.

The incident came shortly after the hour mark with Portugal already trailing 2-0. The visitors were in trouble following a first-half brace from former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott, whose sharp finishing stunned Roberto Martinez's side.

Red mist descends

As frustrations mounted, ex-Real Madrid star Ronaldo became embroiled in a tussle inside the box with O'Shea, the Ipswich Town defender.

In a moment that changed the course of the night, Ronaldo swung an elbow into the back of O'Shea, prompting an immediate yellow card before VAR recommended a review.

Referee Glenn Nyberg was sent to the pitchside monitor, and after a replay, the Swedish official upgraded the caution to a straight red for violent conduct.

It marked the 13th red card of Cristiano Ronaldo's illustrious career - but the first ever in a Portugal shirt. As he left the field to loud boos from the home crowd, Ronaldo responded with sarcastic applause and appeared to exchange words with Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson.

A win in Dublin would have secured Portugal's place at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Instead, they must now wait until their final qualifier against Armenia - and they will have to do so without their all-time record goalscorer.

Will Ronaldo miss Portugal's World Cup opener?

Under current international disciplinary rules, any red card results in an automatic one-match suspension. However, because Cristiano Ronaldo was dismissed for violent conduct, he is at risk of receiving a significantly longer ban.

Typically, violent conduct carries a three-match suspension, though the exact length depends on the referee's report and the disciplinary body's interpretation of the incident.

In this case, the decision will fall to an independent disciplinary committee, as the qualifier falls under the UEFA section of a FIFA World Cup qualifier. If they judge the elbow as excessively dangerous or deliberate, they have the authority to extend the punishment beyond the standard range.

For Portugal, the implications are serious. Suspensions picked up in World Cup qualifiers apply not only to the remaining qualifiers but also to the World Cup tournament itself if the team advances.

With Portugal now preparing for a decisive clash against Armenia - bottom of Group F - they must do so without the presence, leadership and threat of Ronaldo.

Should he receive a multi-game suspension, Ronaldo would be ruled out of Portugal's first match of the 2026 World Cup, a scenario that would leave a seismic hole in Martinez's plans.

Even at 40, Ronaldo remains central to the team's identity, having continued to produce goals at a remarkable rate during the qualifying campaign.

For all his history-making achievements, Cristiano Ronaldo has rarely let emotion boil over in such a dramatic fashion on international duty. But this moment of frustration may now have long-term consequences.

What is certain is that Portugal face their most important qualifier of the campaign without their captain - and potentially their World Cup opener too. A night that began with hope of sealing qualification ended instead with the team's biggest star watching from the tunnel.