Portuguese football captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been dramatically sent home from the national team camp following his first-ever international red card during Thursday's shocking defeat to Ireland.
Historic Dismissal for Portugal Captain
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner received his marching orders after an hour of play during Portugal's unexpected 2-0 loss to Ireland. The incident occurred when Ronaldo, clearly frustrated, threw an elbow at Irish defender Dara O'Shea, prompting the referee to immediately show the straight red card.
This marks the first time in Ronaldo's illustrious international career that he has been sent off while representing Portugal. The veteran striker, who has made over 200 appearances for his country, now faces serious consequences that could impact his World Cup participation.
World Cup Qualification Hangs in Balance
Despite the setback, Roberto Martinez's squad still needs a victory against Armenia on Sunday to secure their qualification for next summer's World Cup tournament. The match represents a crucial moment for Portugal's campaign, though they'll be without their iconic captain.
According to reports from Portuguese outlet A Bola, Ronaldo won't be present to support his teammates during this critical fixture at the Estádio do Dragão. The publication states that the captain has been 'released from the national team' and is expected to return immediately to Saudi Arabia.
Potential Ban and Club Return
The straight red card carries significant implications under international football rules. Typically, such dismissals result in an automatic two-match suspension, which could see Ronaldo miss the opening game of what many believe will be his final World Cup appearance.
Ronaldo is now anticipated to rejoin his club side Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he'll hope for better fortunes when they face Al-Khaleej on November 23. The timing of the incident adds another layer of drama to what has been a challenging period for the football legend.
The development comes at a sensitive time for Portuguese football, with the team yet to mathematically secure their World Cup place despite Ronaldo's generally strong form throughout the qualification campaign.
