On November 13, 2025, during a heated FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's all-time leading scorer with 226 caps entering the match, finally saw red for the first time in his international career. The 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward was shown a straight red card in the 61st minute after swinging an elbow at Ireland defender Dara O'Shea's face during a tense moment amid a VAR review—O'Shea had reportedly kicked the ball away, frustrating Ronaldo. The referee initially cautioned Ronaldo with yellow but upgraded it to red following a pitchside monitor check.
Portugal were leading 2-1 at the time (goals from Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo himself earlier), but the sending-off shifted momentum—Ireland clawed back to draw 2-2, denting Portugal's perfect qualifying run. Ronaldo's reaction? A sarcastic clap toward the officials as he trudged off, drawing memes and debates across X and Reddit about whether it was frustration-fueled or a rare loss of cool from the GOAT.
This marks a milestone (or millstone) for CR7, who's racked up 14 red cards in his club career (mostly early at Manchester United) but stayed impeccably disciplined for Portugal—until now. Suspension implications? He'll miss Portugal's next two qualifiers, potentially against tougher foes, unless appealed successfully. Fans are split: Some call it karma for his ego, others blame O'Shea's antics. Either way, it's a viral moment that's already eclipsing the match itself. What's your verdict—fair send-off or referee overreach?
