25 Nov 2025, 18:52
Cristiano Ronaldo's unique suspension at the World Championship
- Ronaldo missed one match due to a red card
- FIFA suspended him for two out of three matches of the suspension
- Portugal won Group F in the qualifiers for the World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to participate in the opening of the World Championship 2026, despite the red card received during the qualifying match against Ireland. Ronaldo, who is 40 years old, was sent off the field for a strike to the head of defender Dara O'Shea, which resulted in a penalty for Portugal with a score of 0-2 on November 13.
FIFA announced that he incurred a three-match ban, two of which are suspended for a year. Thus, Ronaldo has already missed one match, having skipped the game against Vietnam, which took place on November 16, and now he is allowed to play at the World Championship.
This decision became possible since this was the first red card in Ronaldo's career after 226 matches in the national team. If a footballer violates the rules during the probationary period, he may be forced to serve the remaining part of the suspension.
Ronaldo scored five goals in the qualifiers, which helped Portugal win Group F and secure a spot in the championship. The next stage involves the draw of groups, which will take place on December 5.
Tags: Sport/Football