November 25, (THEWILL) — FIFA has cleared Cristiano Ronaldo to participate in Portugal’s opening fixture at the 2026 World Cup after issuing a suspended sentence for violent conduct. The 40-year-old received a one-match ban with two additional matches suspended for 12 months following his red card during Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland at Aviva Stadium. Having already missed Portugal’s 9-1 victory over Armenia, the Al Nassr forward has fulfilled his immediate suspension requirements.
Manager Roberto Martínez has dismissed speculation surrounding Ronaldo’s future with the national team despite the player’s age. The former Real Madrid striker has scored 25 goals in his last 30 international appearances and netted seven times in his previous seven outings for Portugal. Martínez emphasised that selection decisions are based on current performance rather than external opinion.
The Portugal manager described Ronaldo’s work ethic during a recent interview with Sky Sports. Martínez observed that the forward maintains exceptional training standards and demonstrates professional dedication within the training camp environment. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner recently revealed his biological age is 28 years old whilst continuing his pursuit of 1,000 career goals.
Martínez stated that Ronaldo possesses the greatest determination he has witnessed in any player. The manager noted that unlike most players who lose motivation after winning trophies, Ronaldo maintains consistent hunger and refuses to disappoint himself. With 226 appearances and 143 goals for Portugal, Martínez believes the striker no longer needs to prove anything to anyone.
The 2026 World Cup represents Ronaldo’s final opportunity to claim the one major trophy absent from his 23-year career. Portugal qualified for the tournament after winning the UEFA Nations League. The incident with O’Shea initially threatened to derail Ronaldo’s participation in the opening matches of the competition in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
