In the World Cup European qualifiers, Portugal lost 0-2 to Ireland away, failing to secure early qualification for the World Cup finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off with a red card in this match, his first time being sent off in a national team game. According to The Athletic, Ronaldo may face further punishment, potentially missing the World Cup main draw.
This was Ronaldo's 12th red card in his career, but his first on the international stage. Previously, he had been sent off three times at Manchester United, six times at Real Madrid, once at Juventus, and once while playing for Al-Nassr.
Typically, a red card results in a suspension of one to three official matches (excluding friendlies), the exact number depending on the severity of the offense.
This means Ronaldo will miss Portugal's final World Cup European qualifier against Armenia, a must-win for Portugal to guarantee direct qualification for next year's World Cup finals.
If Portugal finishes second in their group, they will enter the playoffs. At that time, Ronaldo can take any subsequent suspensions, thus ensuring his availability for the final stage of the 2026 World Cup.