Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo will be available for their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener. The striker's suspension has been reduced to just one game, and he served it against Armenia in the final qualifier earlier this month.
Cristiano Ronaldo survives ban
As per a report in the Record, FIFA have reviewed the appeal from the Portuguese Football Federation and have reduced the two-game suspension. The striker was sent off in the defeat against Ireland earlier this month after elbowing Dara O'Shea inside the box.
The Al-Nassr skipper was shown a straight red card after the referee was sent to the monitor. The sending off resulted in a two-game ban, but the Portuguese Football Federation appealed to have it reduced to just one game.
Robert Martinez on Ronaldo's red card situation
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez discussed the red card after the game, saying it strict. He claimed that the national team skipper was unlucky with the sending off, saying that the VAR did not checked the right angle before making a decision. He said:
"Of course, we did. I think it's difficult for a player like Cristiano, who is in the box. And today he had two defenders always with physical contact. There is no violence. He tries to remove the defender and it was unlucky that the VAR consideration... The angle of the images [makes it seem] worse than what happened. It's Ronaldo's first red card in the national team, it's incredible."
Cristiano Ronaldo missed the final FIFA World Cup qualifier, which secured their berth in the 2026 edition. Portugal won the game 9-1 despite the skipper missing the game, and finished on top of their group.
Cristiano Ronaldo says 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his last
Cristiano Ronaldo spoke to the media earlier this month, confirming that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his last edition. He noted his age as the main reason for his decision and said:
"Definitely, yes. I'm gonna be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment. Let's be honest, when I mean soon, it's probably one or two years, I'll still be at the game."
Cristiano Ronaldo will make history when he plays his first match at the upcoming FIFA World Cup. He will become the first player to appear in six different editions of the World Cup, and will share the honor with Lionel Messi, if the two skippers are fit to lead their national teams.