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September 24, 2024
One of the greatest football players in history is Cristiano Ronaldo. The forward has had a career spanning more than 20 years, during which he has broken numerous records, won the second-most Ballon d’Or awards in history, developed a strong rivalry with another equally transcendent player, Lionel Messi, and amassed an impressive list of accolades.
However, Ronaldo has experienced multiple bans or suspensions during this same career. Twenty-one in total. Though this list will only include any bans or suspensions Ronaldo received as a senior player, his first came at Sporting as an under-17 player. These are all those examples.
Five Suspensions
Ronaldo’s disciplinary issues during his first stint at Manchester United, which began in 2003, were minor compared to the star quality he consistently displayed. However, his time in the Premier League had its behavioral challenges.
The attacker received his first senior red card on the final day of the 2003/04 season during a match against Aston Villa, where he added the second goal as the team won 2-0. Unfortunately, the game was marred by the fact that Manchester United ended up with just nine players. After midfielder Darren Fletcher was sent off, Ronaldo followed him to the dressing room. Fortunately, their dismissals did not impact the game’s outcome.
Nearly two years later, Ronaldo was sent off again in a Manchester derby, where Manchester City triumphed. After being challenged by Stephen Jordan, he retaliated with a reckless tackle aimed at former United player Andy Cole. Thankfully, he made no contact, but the intent was enough to warrant a red card. Just weeks later, in February, he faced another suspension after making an offensive gesture to Benfica fans during a European match the previous December, resulting in a one-game ban.
In 2007, during a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth, Ronaldo reacted to Richard Hughes’ persistent provocation with a headbutt, leading to his dismissal and a subsequent three-match ban.
Ronaldo’s final red card in his first spell at Manchester United came during another Manchester derby in 2008. After handling the ball from a corner, referee Howard Webb issued Ronaldo a second yellow card, resulting in his ejection from the match.
Nine Suspensions
Ronaldo had a solid start to his career in La Liga before suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him for several weeks. In his first home start for Real Madrid against Almería, he made quite an impression, scoring a goal in a 4-2 victory. However, within four minutes, he was also booked. He received a second yellow card, marking his first dismissal in the club’s colors.
In a 2-0 victory, Ronaldo scored both goals against Málaga a month later. Still, his physicality caught defender Patrick Mtiliga off guard, resulting in a fractured nose for the Dane. Although Ronaldo insisted there was no intent to harm, La Liga handed him a two-game suspension for the incident.
In early 2013, Ronaldo received a one-game suspension after accumulating too many yellow cards, which kept him out of a match against Real Sociedad. His next straight red card came later that year in a clash against Atlético Madrid. Frustrated by the constant fouls against him, he inadvertently kicked midfielder Gabi in the face during a challenge, leading to his immediate dismissal.
Midway through the 2013/14 season, Ronaldo was involved in a scuffle during a league match against Athletic Bilbao. Although he was not the instigator, he was sent off, much to the frustration of him and the Madrid fans.
Ronaldo received another red card against Córdoba in the following campaign while Madrid chased a winner. Having not performed at his best, he lashed out at Córdoba defender Edimar, resulting in a justified dismissal.
In 2017, during the Supercopa against FC Barcelona, Ronaldo was booked shortly after scoring for removing his shirt in celebration. Moments later, he was penalized for diving in the box, receiving a second yellow card. As he left the pitch, he gave the referee a light shove, resulting in a five-game suspension— the most extended ban of his career.
One Suspension
During his three-year spell with Juventus, Ronaldo received only one red card. This occurred in a Champions League match against Valencia, where he was controversially dismissed after the referee ruled that he had pulled the hair of defender Jeison Murillo. Initially, according to the rules, Ronaldo faced a three-match suspension. However, after an appeal, his ban was reduced to just one game, allowing him to participate in Juventus’ match against his former club, Manchester United.
One Suspension
Like in Italy, Ronaldo received only one suspension during his second stint at Manchester United. However, this one was not due to in-game conduct. In the 2022/23 season, during a match against Tottenham Hotspur, manager Erik ten Hag intended to bring Ronaldo on from the bench. However, after the game, it was revealed that Ronaldo had refused to enter the match, resulting in his suspension by ten Hag. This incident marked a turning point, and it wasn’t long before Ronaldo was preparing to leave Old Trafford, with his sights set on a move to Saudi Arabia.
One Suspension
Ronaldo has now played over 50 matches for Al-Nassr, where many believe he will eventually conclude his illustrious career. During this time, he received just one red card, which was indisputable. Following a frustrating 2-1 defeat to rivals Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup, Ronaldo elbowed Ali Al-Bulayhi, who had been trying to provoke him throughout the match, resulting in an immediate red card for Ronaldo.
Five Suspensions
With 214 caps and 132 goals, Ronaldo is the most-capped and highest-scoring player in international football history. He has represented Portugal for over two decades since debuting as a teenager in 2003. Throughout his international career, he has faced five suspensions, none of which were due to direct red cards. Instead, all of his absences from national duty have resulted from accumulating too many yellow cards during qualifying matches for the Euros and the World Cup. Portugal is undoubtedly thankful that their star player has never been suspended for extended periods during major tournaments. Ronaldo has played a crucial role in leading the team to two European Championship victories during his long service.
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