Cristiano Ronaldo has been cleared to play in Portugal's opening match of the 2026 World Cup after Fifa imposed a three-match ban for violent conduct against the Republic of Ireland, with the final two games suspended.
The 40-year-old forward was sent off for the first time in his 226-match Portugal career for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O'Shea during the 2-0 defeat in Dublin on 13 November. He has already served the first match of the ban in Portugal's final qualifier against Armenia.
Fifa's disciplinary committee ruled that the remaining two matches are suspended for a one-year probation period. A Fifa statement said: 'If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately.'
The decision means Ronaldo could become the first player to appear in six World Cups, a milestone also within reach of Argentina's Lionel Messi. Ronaldo has confirmed that this tournament will be his last before retirement, saying: 'Definitely, yes, because I will be 41 years old.'
The verdict, which is subject to appeal, came six days after Ronaldo attended a White House dinner with US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, alongside Fifa President Gianni Infantino. Portugal's group-stage opponents will be revealed at the World Cup draw in Washington DC on 5 December.
