Cristiano Ronaldo would no longer play for Portugal in September which means that the 36-year-old Portuguese football icon would miss Portugal’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan.
The World Cup qualifier will take place on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. It is scheduled to kick off at 17:00.
The Manchester United returnee might not also play for Portugal in a friendly game against Qatar. Portugal will take on the 2022 FIFA World Cup host in Hungary tomorrow, September 4, 2021, at 17:45.
According to a statement issued by the Portuguese FA, Ronaldo has received two yellow cards so far in the 2022 World Cup series. Hence, he had to be excused from the team ahead of the country’s qualifier game against Azerbaijan on Tuesday.
Recall that Cristiano Ronaldo played for Portugal on September 1, 2021, against Ireland. During the World Cup qualifier, he scored two goals to give Portugal a 2-1 win and to become the all-time highest goalscorer in international football.
When he scored the second goal of the match which gave Portugal the win in the additional minute, the 36-year-old Portuguese football icon celebrated by taking off his shirt which is against football rules.
Hence, Slovenian referee Matej Jug showed Cristiano Ronaldo a yellow card which will force him to miss Portugal’s next World Cup qualifier.
A statement on the Portuguese Football Federation’s official website read: “Cristiano Ronaldo was excused from the stage of the national team this Thursday.
“The yellow card seen against Ireland, being the second in this stage of qualification, forces him to fulfill an official game of the suspension, which will happen against Azerbaijan.”
Cristiano Ronaldo thank Edison Cavani for releasing shirt number 7 to him.
When Cristiano Ronaldo decided to leave Juventus to return to Manchester United this summer, it was not clear whether he would be given his jersey number 7.
Recall that when Ronaldo first got to Manchester United in 2003, he was assigned the shirt number which is now part of his brand. He continued with the legacy at Real Madrid and Juventus.
But before he agreed to return to Manchester United in August 2021, Edison Cavani had already taken the shirt number.
Days after Manchester United announced the return of Ronaldo, the Premier League club announced that Edison has accepted to drop the shirt number for Ronaldo.
Hence, for the rest of the 2021-2022 season, Edison will wear jersey number 21 which he wears when on international duty with Uruguay. While Ronaldo will wear his trademark jersey number 7.
In his reaction, Ronaldo said during a press conference that he “wasn’t sure if it would be possible to have the number seven shirt again”. So I would like to say a huge thank you to Edi (Cavani) for this incredible gesture”, he added.
