Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has avoided a FIFA ban ahead of the 2026 World Cup and will be eligible for his country’s opening match at the tournament.
The 40-year-old risked missing games after receiving a red card in a Euro 2026 qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland, where he was sent off for elbowing Dara O’Shea. Offences involving violent conduct typically attract a three-match suspension.
However, FIFA has suspended the second and third matches of the ban for a year, meaning Ronaldo has already served only one match—Portugal’s 3-1 win over Armenia on November 16.
According to BBC Sport, the disciplinary panel considered that this was Ronaldo’s first red card in 226 international appearances, which influenced the decision.
FIFA warned that the remaining two matches will automatically take effect if Ronaldo commits a similar offence within the probation period.
A statement from FIFA read:
“If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately.”
Ronaldo is now set to lead Portugal into the 2026 World Cup in the United States next summer.
