Portugal handed Cristiano Ronaldo blow as World Cup hopes hang in the balance
Reaction of Portuguese striker No. 7 Cristiano Ronaldo. (Photo by Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP)
Portugal was dealt a heavy blow in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
They were expecting to win against Ireland earlier today, but they were now beaten 2-0. Troy Parrott’s goals ensured Ireland kept their World Cup hopes alive.
Meanwhile, Portugal had secured its place in the 2026 World Cup with today’s victory. It seems that they will decide their fate in the World Cup in the last match of the group stage.
They will face Armenia at home in Porto, and will need to win the match in order to book their place in the next World Cup.
Portugal dealt a blow to Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to miss Portugal’s first match of the World Cup after being sent off following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review for violent behaviour.
He must receive a two-match ban which will be applied against Armenia on Sunday and the first match of the World Cup. (Assuming Portugal qualifies for cars).
-Dale Johnson (DaleJohnsonBBC) November 13, 2025
Ronaldo will miss two matches
Cristiano Ronaldo had previously received a red card against Ireland, and will serve a one-match ban against Armenia. If Portugal manages to qualify for the World Cup, he will miss the first match of the tournament.
It remains to be seen whether Portugal can get past Armenia without their star striker. Certainly, his absence in such a crucial match could cause problems for the home team. However, they have a lot of quality and depth in the attacking unit. They should be able to get through the game and book their place in the Championship next summer.
Ronaldo will be eager to compete in next year’s World Cup, and hopes his teammates can get the job done against Armenia. At the same time, he will be disappointed to miss the first match of the World Cup, provided Portugal qualifies for the tournament.
The Portuguese striker is looking forward to winning the tournament next summer. It’s the only major trophy missing from his government, and he will look to go one step further this time.
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2025-11-13 22:45:00
