The scare that put Portugal on alert

For weeks, the biggest question surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo had nothing to do with goals or records — it was his availability for the 2026 World Cup. His red card against Ireland on November 13 had created genuine panic across Portugal.

The incident, ruled as violent conduct against defender Dara O’Shea, marked the first straight red card of Ronaldo’s career with the national team after 226 appearances. Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg initially booked him with a yellow, but upgraded it to a red after reviewing the VAR footage.

Immediately, speculation erupted: Would he miss two games? Three? A lengthy ban could have sidelined him for Portugal’s first matches at the World Cup — a scenario unthinkable for fans and disastrous for the team.

FIFA’s ruling eases the tension

At last, FIFA delivered its verdict: just one match of suspension, already served in the qualifier against Armenia, plus two additional games conditionally applied depending on future conduct.

In simple terms, Cristiano Ronaldo is fully cleared to play Portugal’s World Cup opener — as long as he avoids further disciplinary incidents.

The decision brought immediate relief to the Portuguese star, the national team staff, and millions of supporters who feared the worst.

Portugal proved its strength — but Ronaldo remains irreplaceable

While his suspension was being sorted, Portugal secured World Cup qualification with a historic win over Armenia — and they did it without their captain on the pitch.

Still, Cristiano remains irreplaceable. At 40, he continues breaking barriers: he is chasing the mythical milestone of 1,000 official career goals, and just days ago he stunned the football world again with a spectacular overhead kick in league action.

A World Cup that now has its star back

With the sanction behind him, Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal into the World Cup from the very first match. The fear has vanished, the debate is over, and the spotlight returns to the football.
At this point, only one question truly matters:

Who will be able to stop Cristiano Ronaldo once the World Cup begins?