Ronaldo avoids World Cup ban as FIFA offers probation after red card

Cristiano Ronaldo will be available for Portugal's opening matches at the 2026 World Cup after FIFA opted not to trigger an additional suspension for his recent red card in World Cup qualifying.

FIFA's disciplinary committee said Tuesday that it had imposed a three-match ban on the Portugal captain, but the two remaining games were deferred for a one-year probation period.

Ronaldo was sent off for swinging an elbow toward defender Dara O'Shea in a 2-0 World Cup qualification defeat to the Republic of Ireland on Nov. 13.

The red card came with a mandatory one-game ban, which Ronaldo served when Portugal confirmed its passage to the World Cup with a 9-1 rout of Armenia three days after the Ireland match.

FIFA had the option to extend his suspension due to violent conduct.

"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," FIFA explained in its statement, via BBC Sport.

Any additional ban only counted for competitive matches. That meant Ronaldo would've been available to play in Portugal's friendlies in March and immediately ahead of the tournament in North America, but he risked missing games in the World Cup group stage.

Ronaldo's reprieve comes one week after his formal dinner with U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at The White House. FIFA president Gianni Infantino also attended the event and appeared in the background of a selfie with Ronaldo, his fiancee Georgina Rodriguez, and major business leaders.

Ronaldo, 40, scored five goals in five appearances during Portugal's World Cup qualification cycle. The forward, who plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, also scored three goals en route to Portugal winning the Nations League Finals last June.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus superstar is the all-time leading scorer and appearance holder in men's international soccer with 143 goals in 226 Portugal caps. He won Euro 2016 but has reached no further than the semi-final stage in his five World Cups thus far.