Ronaldo's Nightmare in Dublin
Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo endured a humiliating evening in Dublin, receiving a red card and being brutally mocked by Republic of Ireland supporters during a crucial World Cup qualifier. The incident, which occurred on November 13, 2025, left the 40-year-old forward red-faced and his team down to ten men.
How the Drama Unfolded
The match took a shocking turn early on when Troy Parrott scored a first-half brace, giving the home side a surprising 2-0 lead. The situation worsened for Portugal in the 62nd minute when Ronaldo swung an elbow at Irish defender Dara O'Shea. Initially, Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg showed a yellow card.
Television cameras captured Ronaldo making a crying gesture towards O'Shea and the Irish fans. However, the decision was quickly sent for a VAR review. After consulting the pitchside monitor, Nyberg overturned his original call, recognising the severity of the infringement and brandishing a straight red card.
The Fallout and Fan Reaction
As he trudged off the pitch, Ronaldo sarcastically applauded the home crowd. In a moment that went viral, one Ireland fan was seen repeating the crying gesture back at the Al-Nassr star. Ronaldo was also involved in a heated exchange with Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson before disappearing down the tunnel.
The consequences of his dismissal are significant. Ronaldo will now miss Portugal's final qualifying game against Armenia this weekend. Furthermore, if Portugal qualifies for the tournament, he could also be suspended for their opening matches at the World Cup next summer.
