The 40 year old forward endured a nightmare night in Dublin, dismissed just before the hour for what officials deemed violent conduct following a clash with defender Dara O’Shea. Initially booked, the incident was upgraded to a straight red after VAR advised referee Marco Guida to review the contact.

With Ronaldo unavailable for the final fixture of the international break, the Portuguese Football Federation confirmed he had been “authorised to depart early”, allowing him extra recovery time before rejoining Al-Nassr ahead of next weekend’s league match.

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez backed his skipper after the defeat, insisting the reaction to the contact made the situation “look worse than it was” and stressing that Ronaldo had endured constant grappling inside the box throughout the match.

“He was being held and pushed for nearly an hour,” Martinez said. “When he tries to free himself, the replay makes it appear like an elbow. I don’t believe it was intentional, but we accept the decision.”

The manager also acknowledged the striker’s remarkable disciplinary record, noting that it was the first sending-off of his international career.

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson rejected any suggestion that pre-match comments about refereeing pressure had played a role in the decision.

“It was his behaviour in that moment, nothing to do with me,” Hallgrímsson said. “He made a mistake. These things happen, even to the best players in the world.”

Ronaldo’s dismissal currently carries a one-match ban, though UEFA could extend the suspension depending on the referee’s report. Should the sanction increase to three games and Portugal qualifies directly for the 2026 World Cup, the veteran could potentially miss part of the group stage.

For now, the focus returns to his club, with Al-Nassr preparing for a pivotal week in the Saudi Pro League.