Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off in Portugal’s defeat against Ireland for violent conduct. Whilst red cards in World Cup qualifiers receive an automatic one match ban, there is a chance this will be upgraded to a three game ban if it is reviewed by the Fifa Disciplinary Committee.
Should the ban be extended and Portugal qualify without needing to go through the play-offs, Ronaldo would miss the first two matches of the 2026 World Cup.
Would this put his spot at risk?
This is not a debate over his position within the squad; Ronaldo is the ultimate big-game player and is still a consistent source of goals, he will be on the plane to America.
But could this suspension affect his starting role?
There has long been a debate within Portuguese football about what the post-Ronaldo squad would look like. The sentiment within certain quarters is that despite his goalscoring, Ronaldo’s overall gameplay as a poacher is negatively affecting the rest of the team and is preventing the next generation from coming through.
But since his 40th birthday back in February, CR7 has started all nine national team games. With eight goals in that time, you’d be crazy to drop such a talisman, which has so far meant that no one quite knows how Portugal will look without Ronaldo.
This potential three-game suspension will provide a looking glass into the future – how the rest of the squad will shape up in his absence.
Roberto Martínez has no shortage of attacking talent at his disposal, even with Ronaldo suspended. Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto are regular starters on the wing, with Bruno Fernandes often deployed as attacking midfielder. During Ronaldo’s suspension, options will include Rafael Leão, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos and Trincão among others, all of whom will be looking to grasp this rare opportunity to cement a starting position.
None of those potential replacements possess anywhere near the same goalscoring pedigree, even compared to a 40-year-old Ronaldo. However, they all individually possess a different play style that will force Portugal into playing in a very different manner to when Cristiano is leading the line.
It is this change of playstyle that presents a threat to Ronaldo’s starting position. If the ban is indeed extended to three games, Martinez has a window of opportunity to try out different systems and playstyles that wouldn’t necessarily work with a veteran poacher up top. If they find a formula that works – both in terms of results and in getting the best out of the rest of the squad – Ronaldo might have a fight on his hands to claim back his starting position.
Would Roberto Martínez be brave enough to leave Ronaldo on the bench should Portugal look stronger without him? Only time will tell.
