MIAMI: Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has received a significant boost to his FIFA World Cup 2026 ambitions after FIFA, on Tuesday, partially suspended a three-match ban levied against him.
The decision clears the 40-year-old superstar to participate in the opening matches of the tournament next summer.The disciplinary action stems from the first straight red card of Ronaldo’s decorated 226-match international career.
He was dismissed for elbowing Republic of Ireland defender Dara O’Shea during a qualifier in Dublin earlier in November, a match Portugal ultimately lost 0-2.Ronaldo has already served one match of the three-match penalty, sitting out Portugal’s decisive qualifying victory over Armenia.
