Who's crybaby now: CR7 jeopardizes his WC swansong with bizarre red card

Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Dublin promising to "be a good boy."

Ninety minutes later, he left Aviva Stadium as public enemy No. 1 - and possibly facing a World Cup ban.

In Portugal's shock 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland, the 40-year-old superstar lost his composure in a moment that may define the end of his international career. Trailing to Troy Parrott's first-half brace and suffocated by Ireland's intensity, Ronaldo snapped on the hour mark.

Battling Dara O'Shea in the box, the Portugal captain drove his elbow into the defender’s back. The flash of frustration sent O'Shea down and the crowd into a frenzy. Referee Glenn Nyberg gave a yellow, but VAR intervened. Ronaldo mocked the fans, but after review, he saw red - and now risks missing the 2026 World Cup’s start.

Instead of leaving quietly, Ronaldo played the villain - sarcastically clapping, trading words with coach Hallgrimsson, and fueling an unexpected rivalry.

Hallgrimsson, who previously commented on Ronaldo's influence on referees, referred to the red card as a "moment of silliness."

Martinez called the decision harsh and accused Ireland’s bench of shaping the narrative. He insisted Ronaldo "was grabbed for 60 minutes," and said the incident looked worse on camera than on the pitch.

The stakes for Cristiano are now brutal.

Under FIFA's disciplinary code, violent conduct can result in a minimum ban of three matches. That punishment would mean that Ronaldo would miss the first two group-stage games in North America if Portugal qualifies directly. If Portugal falls into the play-offs, he'll serve the suspension there. Did Cristiano just elbow away his last chance at the Mundial?

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - EUROPE

Thursday

Armenia - Hungary 0-1 (0-1)

/Varga 33/

Azerbaijan - Iceland 0-2 (0-2)

/Gudmundsson A. 20, Ingason 39/

Norway - Estonia 4-1 (0-0)

/Sorloth 50, 52, Haaland 56, 62 - Saarma 65/

Andorra - Albania 0-1 (0-0)

/Asllani 67/

England - Serbia 2-0 (1-0)

/Saka 28, Eze 90/

France - Ukraine 4-0 (0-0)

/Mbappe 55 pen, 83, Olise 76, Ekitike 88/

Moldova - Italy 0-2 (0-0)

/Mancini 88, Esposito 90+3/

Republic of Ireland - Portugal 2-0 (2-0)

/Parrott 17, 45/

Friday

20.00: (1.33) Finland (5.40) Malta (11.0)

22.45: (1.12) Croatia (10.0) Faroe I. (25.0)

22.45: (15.0) Gibraltar (6.25) Montenegro (1.25)

22.45: (4.80) Poland (4.00) Netherlands (1.75)

22.45: (2.10) Slovakia (3.25) N.Ireland (4.10)

Saturday

17.00: (15.0) Kazakhstan (7.70) Belgium (1.20)

19.00: (11.0) Cyprus (6.00) Austria (1.30)

20.00: (13.5) Georgia (7.00) Spain (1.23)

20.00: (55.0) Liechtenstein (16.0) Wales (1.02)

20.00: (1.08) Turkey (11.0) Bulgaria (30.0)

22.45: (2.45) B&H (3.40) Romania (3.05)

22.45: (1.03) Denmark (15.0) Belarus (50.0)

22.45: (2.15) Greece (3.45) Scotland (3.70)

22.45: (2.05) Slovenia (3.25) Kosovo* (4.20)

22.45: (1.60) Switzerland (4.10) Sweden (5.50)

Sunday

17.00: (1.80) Hungary (3.50) R.Ireland (4.70)

17.00: (1.08) Portugal (13.0) Armenia (20.0)

20.00: (7.75) Albania (4.50) England (1.42)

20.00: (20.0) Azerbaijan (13.0) France (1.08)

20.00: (1.25) Serbia (6.50) Latvia (14.0)

20.00: (1.67) Ukraine (3.60) Iceland (5.70)

22.45: (1.43) Israel (4.50) Moldova (7.50)

22.45: (1.85) Italy (3.60) Norway (4.30)

***odds are subject to change***