Cristiano Ronaldo, ever the headline magnet, is set to walk into the 2026 FIFA World Cup with his boots laced and his slate wiped clean—despite that fiery red card he picked up against the Republic of Ireland. The 39-year-old icon, who still moves the pitch like a man with something to prove, won’t miss a single group-stage game for Portugal.
Normally, violent conduct earns a brutal three-match suspension—basically a corporate “don’t come to the office” memo that would’ve benched him for Portugal’s first two World Cup fixtures. Ronaldo had been sent off in the 61st minute after an elbow clash with Dara O’Shea. VAR stepped in, upgraded his yellow to a red, and boom—everyone thought that was the beginning of a long sit-out.
But FIFA pulled an unexpected strategic pivot. They’ve suspended the second and third match bans for a whole year under probation, meaning Ronaldo is free to jump straight into World Cup action. He’s already served the first match of the suspension during Portugal’s qualifier against Armenia.
In their official statement, FIFA didn’t mince words: if Ronaldo slips again with a similar offense during probation, the remaining suspension hits instantly—no meetings, no negotiations, just action. But they also acknowledged something important: this was the first red card of his entire 226-game international career. That’s wild for someone who’s been battling defenders for nearly two decades.
Ronaldo, who netted five goals in the qualifiers, helped propel Portugal to the top of Group F and into their seventh consecutive World Cup. The anticipation is already humming, and with the tournament heading to the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the energy is about to hit a global crescendo.
The group-stage draw drops on Friday, December 5. All eyes will be watching—not just on Portugal, but on whether Ronaldo shows up with the fire of a legend on a mission.