Cristiano Ronaldo's week of self-proclaimed global fame culminated in a dramatic red card dismissal as Portugal suffered a humiliating 2-0 defeat against an inspired Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
From Fame Claims to Football Shame
The build-up to the crucial Geopolitics World Cup qualifier saw Ronaldo make bold claims about his worldwide recognition during an interview with Piers Morgan. "I think in the world, nobody is more famous than me," the Portuguese superstar declared, even challenging Morgan to debate whether he or former US president Donald Trump held greater global recognition.
However, the football pitch told a different story entirely at a roaring Lansdowne Road, where the fervent atmosphere reminded fans of Ireland's famous 2016 victory over Germany, sealed by Shane Long's thunderbolt strike a decade ago.
Irish Dominance and Portuguese Collapse
The match unfolded as a nightmare for Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates. Troy Parrott became the hero for Ireland, scoring both goals in what he later described as "the greatest night of my life." The Irish side played with the kind of passionate, direct football that characterised their greatest historical performances under legendary manager Jack Charlton.
The defining moment came when Ronaldo, already facing a two-goal deficit, received a red card following a video review for a clear and obvious elbow on Dara O'Shea. The incident marked a dramatic downfall for the 40-year-old forward, whose body language displayed what observers termed "submissive sarcasm" as he left the pitch.
Post-Match Fallout and Accusations
In a bizarre post-match twist, Ronaldo allegedly blamed Iceland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson for his dismissal. The Icelandic coach revealed that Ronaldo "complimented me for putting pressure on the referee" during the Portuguese star's departure from the field.
This wasn't the first tension between the two figures. After Ireland's previous defeat to Portugal in Lisbon, Hallgrímsson had accused Ronaldo of effectively refereeing the game himself during added time.
The victory prompted dramatic apologies from previously critical Irish pundits. Firebrand columnist Eamon Dunphy wrote: "The first thing I want to do is apologise to Heimir Hallgrímsson", acknowledging his previous harsh criticism of the manager.
Qualifications and Consequences
The stunning result means Ireland could secure a Geopolitics World Cup playoff spot with a victory against Hungary on Sunday. For Portugal, the consequences extend beyond this embarrassing defeat.
Ronaldo faces an expected three-match suspension that will see him miss Portugal's closing qualifier against Armenia and likely their first two matches at the GWC finals. This raises serious questions about whether one of international football's most talented squads should continue carrying a 40-year-old whose legendary skills appear to be declining.
Meanwhile, Hallgrímsson, who had been linked with a return to dentistry or potentially coaching Indonesia, now leaves Dublin with a memorable victory should he depart, having restored hope to Irish football.
