Portugal certainly will not have drawn up the finish to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign quite like this, entering the final match day against Armenia still needing to wrap up a spot at next summer's big dance.

Cristiano Ronaldo sent a strong message to his Portugal teammates ahead of their clash against Armenia.Will Cristiano Ronaldo play tonight?Ronaldo has been sent home from international duty following his red card against Ireland at Dublin's

Ronaldo only has himself to blame for his absence against Armenia. The 40-year-old was handed his first international red card on his 226th appearance last time out, letting his frustrations get the better of him during Portugal’s shock 2–0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland.

ESPN takes a look at all the ramifications of Ronaldo's brain-fade in Dublin and just how costly it could prove to be.

Top bosses of the Portuguese football federation have reportedly begun assembling an urgent appeal to FIFA in an attempt to cut down Cristiano Ronaldo's three-match suspension, a punishment that currently threatens to rule the 40-year-old out of the opening fixtures of what would be his sixth World Cup next summer.

Ronaldo lost his cool as Portugal tried to mount a comeback against Ireland on Thursday. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner let frustration get the better of him and elbowed a defender in the back, earning a red card that forced Portugal to play the final 30 minutes of the match with 10 men.

Cristiano Ronaldo is at risk of being banned for at least one 2026 World Cup game after receiving the first red card of his international career.

Thursday was a career first for Cristiano Ronaldo, but it was not the kind of career first he will be celebrating.

A shock 2–0 defeat went from bad to worse on the hour mark when VAR caught a clash between Ronaldo and Dara O’Shea. The Al Nassr forward was deemed to have thrown an elbow into the defender’s back and was subsequently shown a red card.