Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal experienced a nightmarish evening in Ireland this Thursday. Beaten 2-0 by the Boys in Green, Roberto Martinez’s men missed the opportunity to validate their ticket for the 2026 World Cup.
The match was also marked by an unexpected event, the expulsion of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner after the hour mark. The Al-Nassr striker was guilty of elbowing Dara O’Shea in the back. This gesture earned him a red card, the first of his international career.
“The images are worse than his gesture”
Ronaldo will undoubtedly miss the final day of qualifying against Armenia this Sunday. The Seleção captain can, however, count on the unwavering support of his coach, who came to his aid after the match.
“The first reason for Cristiano’s red card is his great passion and frustration when he doesn’t win, which is what we expect from all players. Then, it is very difficult for an attacker to progress in the area, constantly marked by the central defenders. Then, a coach tries to put pressure on the referee, and a central defender, although very strong, collapses excessively. I think the images are worse than his gesture”explained the Spanish coach to journalists.
