Portugal are looking to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and only need a win against Armenia on Sunday – but their seismic defeat to Ireland (2-0) has overshadowed their chances of victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the dressing room early after elbowing an opponent. Initially all he saw was yellow, but VAR corrected the referee and the Portuguese was sent off. As he left the pitch, the Al Nasr striker responded with a gesture towards the crowd, an action that angered his country.
This episode is also attracting attention in Portugal. The press was harsh, especially A Bola, which opened its editorial with the blunt headline “Cristiano should be ashamed.” Journalist Hugo Vasconcelos took the criticism further, saying that what was unfortunate for him was “not just the elbow hit as a result of a fit of rage,” as can happen during a heated competition, but “every subsequent match.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s fake crying gesture instantly backfired after receiving a red card
The same text details what annoyed him most: “The production: tears, gestures of incomprehension, sarcastic applause to the audience that suggested the Irish were exaggerating…as if the ejection was the responsibility of the stands.” A wicked portrait of a Portuguese captain on a night to forget.
Ireland national team coach Heimir Hallgrimsson did not overlook the incident. “Everything was visible when he left the pitch. There was nothing further to comment. It was a moment of pure stupidity on his part,” he said after the match.
