Cristiano Ronaldo will be available for Portugal’s opening match at next summer’s World Cup after Fifa suspended two of the three games normally imposed for violent conduct, following his red card for elbowing Dara O’Shea during a qualifying defeat to Ireland.
The 40-year-old, who received his first international dismissal in 226 appearances, has already served one match by sitting out Portugal’s game against Armenia.
Fifa warned the remaining two-match ban will be reinstated if he commits a similar offence during a one-year probation period. Ronaldo scored five goals in qualifying as Portugal topped Group F, with the World Cup draw to take place on 5 December.
Call it skill, call it instinct… we call it Ronaldo 🐐💛 pic.twitter.com/diFN85oBCI
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 23, 2025
