Cristiano Ronaldo has always worn his heart on his sleeve. As a kid on the Portuguese island of Madeira, he was known as ‘cry baby’ by his teammates because of how often he broke down in tears when things didn’t go his way.

Not much has gone against Ronaldo throughout a professional career that sees him ranked as one of the greatest football players of all time. Laced between the many triumphs, there have been some lowlights – often dictated by an ill-timed burst of emotion.

Real Madrid’s all-time record goalscorer picked up his 13th career red card (and his very first for Portugal) while playing against the Republic of Ireland in November 2025. Ronaldo now has one more red card in his catalogue than his fearsome former Manchester United teammate Roy Keane.

1

Aston Villa 0-2 Manchester United

15th May 2004

Ronaldo’s maiden campaign at Manchester United was peppered with flashes of his abundant potential. After winning a penalty during a dazzling debut against Bolton Wanderers, the stepover specialist left plenty of dizzy defenders in his wake before scoring his fourth Premier League goal on the final day of the season.

Unfortunately for Ronaldo, he signed off the 2003/04 campaign five minutes early after receiving a second yellow card against Aston Villa. Avoiding suspension for the first disciplinary lapse of his career, United’s teenager returned one week later to light up a victorious FA Cup final against Millwall. Sir Alex Ferguson hailed him as “better than anything in Europe”.

2

Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United

14th January 2006

Retaliation is a common theme of Ronaldo’s red cards. Just seconds after getting clobbered by a robust challenge from Manchester City’s Stephen Jordan which went unpunished, United’s number seven chased after the ball through a fog of red mist. Andrew Cole, one of Manchester United’s greatest-ever strikers who had moved to the blue half of the city, was the unwitting recipient.

Ronaldo’s airborne stamp mercifully didn’t connect with Cole, but Steve Bennett was quick to produce his red card, reducing United to 10 while they were already trailing 2-0. Ferguson had the gall to appeal the decision which the FA predictably dismissed.

3

Portsmouth 1-1 Manchester United

15th August 2007

Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes didn’t enjoy a career laced with obvious standout moments. The former Bournemouth and Portsmouth midfielder was rarely a regular in the top flight and never scored a Premier League goal but did manage to provoke Ronaldo into a petulant headbutt.

Hughes ranked the scuffle at Fratton Park in 2007 as “one of the highlights of my career”. Ferguson rarely criticised Ronaldo in public but warned: “He has got to realise he is better than these other players and not to rise to their bait. He has got to rise above it.” The petulant Portuguese forward didn’t take that message onboard.

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4

Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United

30th November 2008

Ronaldo is the player with the most club headed goals since 2000 but turned down the chance to add to his tally during the Manchester derby in 2008. Rather than thumping Wayne Rooney’s corner beyond Joe Hart, Ronaldo thrust his arms in front of his face. Howard Webb swiftly produced a second yellow card for a deliberate handball, earning United’s star an early bath.

“I heard a beep,” Ronaldo claimed. But replays showed that the foul on Micah Richards had not occurred, let alone been spotted and whistled for by the referee, before Ronaldo raised his arms. City manager Mark Hughes was not the only one to ask: “If the ball was going to hit him in the face why didn’t he just head it?”

5

Real Madrid 4-2 Almeria

5th December 2009

On his first start at the Santiago Bernabeu after two months recovering from an ankle injury, Ronaldo made up for lost time against Almeria in 2009. Real Madrid’s record signing scored, assisted, missed a penalty and earned his first La Liga red card during a hectic 4-2 comeback win.

Ronaldo sulked when Karim Benzema tucked away the rebound from his failed spot kick before celebrating a strike he converted himself by whipping his shirt off. That earned him a booking which proved costly after the referee produced another yellow card following a tangle with Juanma Ortiz. Ronaldo apologised to Madrid’s fans post-game, offering: “I’m human and I made a mistake.”

6

Real Madrid 2-0 Malaga

24th January 2010

Malaga’s left-back Patrick Mtiliga had struggled to get close enough to Ronaldo to foul him at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2010, watching on as Real Madrid‘s forward scored twice in the first half. When the Danish defender did get touch-tight, he received an elbow to his face which fractured his nose.

Ronaldo insisted there was no malice behind the swing of his arm, but didn’t offer the most heartfelt apology. “It was bad luck to hit him on the nose because he’s only 1.70 metres and if he had been taller I would have struck his chest,” Ronaldo explained. La Liga didn’t buy it and slapped him with a two-game ban.

7

Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Madrid

17th May 2013

The derby between Atletico and Real Madrid is one of the biggest inter-city club rivalries in world football, taking on heightened importance since Diego Simeone took over Los Rojiblancos. Atletico’s first derby victory of the 21st century didn’t arrive until May 2013. It was worth the wait as Real imploded in the Copa del Rey final at their own stadium, losing after extra time as Ronaldo and his manager Jose Mourinho were both sent off.

Ronaldo gave Real the lead after 13 minutes before growing increasingly frustrated with the robust treatment he received. Following yet another foul from Gabi, Ronaldo flicked out his boot in mid-air, catching the Atletico midfielder in the face.

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8

Athletic Club 1-1 Real Madrid

2nd February 2014

Not every red card Ronaldo earned during his career was entirely justified. After receiving a shove from Carlos Gurpegi and getting fronted up by Ander Iturraspe, Ronaldo was bizarrely singled out as the offending party.

The freshly crowned Ballon d’Or winner was staggered by the decision from Miguel Angel Ayza Gamez during a league draw with Athletic Club, laughing in disbelief as he reluctantly sauntered off the pitch. The Spanish FA weren’t impressed either, suspending the official for a month and taking him off all future Real Madrid matches. Much to the dismay of those in the capital, Ronaldo didn’t avoid a three-game ban.

9

Cordoba 1-2 Real Madrid

24th January 2015

Cordoba’s defender Edimar had a much cooler head than Ronaldo when he was quizzed about the unprovoked kick he received from the Portuguese forward in January 2015. “I hold no grudge,” the Brazilian shrugged. “I forgive Cristiano.”

Just 10 days after earning the third Ballon d’Or of his career, Ronaldo unveiled the ugly underbelly of his game. As Madrid chased a winner against their lowly hosts, Ronaldo swung his boot at Edimar, making a better connection with his opponent’s shinpads than he had the ball all afternoon. Ronaldo took to social media to apologise to Edimar for what he described as a “thoughtless action”.

10

Barcelona 1-3 Real Madrid

13th August 2017

The 2017 Spanish Supercopa should have been a golden night for Ronaldo against Real Madrid’s arch-rivals Barcelona. But one of the top scorers in El Clasico history sullied a triumphant contest by receiving two desperately avoidable yellow cards in as many minutes.

A matter of seconds after celebrating a spectacular strike by removing his shirt to show the Camp Nou crowd his name and number, Ronaldo was booked for diving in the penalty area. The Spanish federation hit Madrid’s star with a five-game ban after he lightly shoved referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea. Ronaldo labelled the punishment “exaggerated and ridiculous”. “This is what you call persecution!” he wailed into the void of social media.