Ronaldo’s outburst in Saudi Super Cup was the 12th red card of his career

[Oyedibu Fikayo Odunayo]

Ronaldo’s outburst in Saudi Super Cup was the 12th red card of his career
Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest on-field outburst in Al-Nassr’s 2-1 Saudi Super Cup defeat Al-Hilal saw him receive the 12th red card of his career.

The 39-year-old lost his head on Monday evening after he appeared to elbow and stamp on his opponent. He then inexplicably raised his fist towards the referee after he had been given his marching orders.

It has not been a happy few months for the forward, who was recently handed a one-game suspension for making an obscene gesture during a Saudi Pro League match.

In fact, most of his dismissals have been caused by him losing his temper or kicking out at an opponent. He’s even had previous when it comes to aggression against an official.

Here, Mail Sport takes a look at nine other times the red mist has descended on the star striker during his 22-year professional career.

Lunge on Andy Cole

The first straight red card of Ronaldo’s career came in a 3-1 derby defeat by Manchester City in January 2006.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were in the then unfamiliar position of trailing 2-0 to their local rivals at half-time thanks to a brace from Darius Vassell.

United legend Andy Cole had by this stage swapped his blood red strip for a light blue and he was on the receiving end of an ugly challenge by Ronaldo in the 66th minute of the Etihad contest.

After miscontrolling the ball 15 yards into his own half, Ronaldo went airborne, studs aimed – however unintentionally – at Cole’s right ankle. Fortunately for the City striker, no contact was made but that didn’t stop referee Steve Bennett from reaching for the red card.

Bust-up with Liverpool’s future sporting director

Ronaldo went another 18 months before he was next sent off, this time after a coming together with Portsmouth midfielder Richard Hughes.

With the sides tied a 1-1 in the closing stages of United’s second Premier League game of the 2007-08 season, Ronaldo and Hughes began a shoving match which led to a full on brawl involving several players.

It quickly transpired that the Red Devils star man had headbutted Hughes as they awaited delivery from a United corner kick. Ronaldo was sent for an early shower.

‘Should I ever meet people who don’t necessarily remember me playing Premier League football, I can always tell them that one of the game’s greats headbutted me.’ Hughes told the Sun in 2021.

Fourteen years after the incident he is set to leave his position as Bournemouth technical director to become sporting director at Liverpool.

Almeria attack

In his seventh LaLiga game for new club Real Madrid, the red mist descended once again.

Ronaldo had completed a world record £80million transfer to the Bernabeu that summer and had begun life in the Spanish capital at some pace, with five goals in his opening four league matches.

However, an ankle injury ruled him out of six straight games before he returned for a 1-0 El Clasico defeat in November. The following fixture was at home to Almeria where Los Blancos shockingly went 2-1 behind on the hour.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side responded with goals from Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo. But the occasion would end on a sour note when the forward – after receiving a forceful shunt to the back of the neck by Juanma Ortiz – booted the winger’s calf, sending him to the turf in pain.

Amazingly, it was only met with a yellow card by the referee – his second after taking off his shirt celebrating his goal three minutes prior.

‘Accidental’ flailing elbow

After serving a one-game suspension, Ronaldo returned for clashes against Valencia, Osasuna and Mallorca before he was off again in a 2-0 win against Malaga.

The forward had scored a brace and was in search of a maiden Madrid hat-trick when he was pulled up after catching left-back Patrick Mtiliga flush in the face with his right elbow.

In fairness, it is something often seen with an attacker looking to evade the clutches of a tight defender. Still, he did give the Denmark international the full force of his elbow. And this time he got a two-match suspension for the offence.

Bicycle kick-out

When, or if, Ronaldo decides to call time on his career, along with his many records and accolades, he will be remembered for his incredible physical feats.

Whether that be items from his iconic goalscoring collection – the likes of which include his stunning back post header for Juventus or astonishing bicycle kick for Real Madrid – or incredible moments of skill.

An often forgotten example of his physical prowess came in the final of the 2013 Copa Del Rey, when Ronaldo, milliseconds away from hitting the ground after a late tackle by Atletico Madrid captain Gabi, readjusted his outstretched left boot to make contact with the face of the midfielder.

The fact little contact was made had no difference, the Spaniard had all the justification he needed to hit the deck and wind down the clock in extra time as his side claimed the trophy in their arch rivals’ backyard.

Three for the price of one

A charged Ronaldo earned himself a three-game ban back in 2014 when he caused something of a riot towards the end of Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao.

Having taken the lead at San Mames, Carlo Ancelotti’s side were pegged back in the 73rd minute, facing two dropped points in a tight title race.

But their ambitions were swiftly made harder when, two minutes later, Ronaldo lashed out at two Athletic players. First up was skipper Carlos Gurpegui, who objected to his penalty shout and was met with a stamp on the foot and a scratch to the side of his face.

Then followed midfielder Ander Iturraspe, who Ronaldo also scratched, headbutted and then shoved away.

Ronaldo’s defence was a diving gesture made towards referee Miguel Angel Ayza Gamez but that was never going to save him.

Carnage in Cordoba

A consistent thread to the majority of Ronaldo’s dismissals has been frustration. Rarely has he been sent off early in a game, nor does he tend to be pulled up for late tackles.

Instead, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner appears to store up his angst throughout the encounter, which he then unleashes on an unsuspecting victim should the result not be going his team’s way.

That was certainly the case when Real Madrid travelled to Cordoba in 2015, seeking a late winner in the game’s final 10 minutes. Seemingly without provocation, Ronaldo simultaneously swiped at the leg of fullback Edimar and caught him in the face with his left hand in the same motion.

The Brazilian had just helped to safely shepherd a dangerous Madrid cross back into the arms of his goalkeeper, to which Ronaldo reacted angrily. Cameras also caught him punching out at a Cordoba defender.

After receiving his red card, Ronaldo later apologised for his moment of madness, writing on social media: ‘I apologise to all and especially to Edimar for my reckless act in the match today.’

Shoving the referee

Ronaldo came very close to emulating Paolo Di Canio when he was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for diving during Real Madrid’s Spanish Super Cup first-leg win over Barcelona.

Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea took ill to his tumble in the area after battling with Samuel Umtiti for a loose ball and brandished the card just two minutes after Ronaldo had put Madrid in front – and subsequently taken his shirt off to receive his first.

Enraged – or maybe embarrassed – by his whirlwind two minutes, Ronaldo bellowed at the official who replied by gesturing him towards the bench. This prompted the forward to give the referee a not insignificant shove in the back.

He was handed a five-game suspension, one for the dismissal and four for the push, and ordered to pay a hefty fine.

No goal disgust

After thinking he had given Portugal a late 3-2 win in World Cup qualifying against Serbia, Ronaldo was outraged to see his goal not given.

Defender Stefan Mitrovic looked to have pulled off a stunning goalline clearance to deny the star striker but replays showed the ball had clearly gone over the line and with no VAR in place, Ronaldo angrily protested before throwing his armband to the floor in disgust.

Taking to Instagram after the match, Ronaldo wrote: ‘Being captain of the Portugal national team is one of the greatest honours and privileges of my life.

‘I give and will always give my all for my country, that will never change.

‘But there are difficult moments to cope with, especially when we feel like an entire nation is being harmed. Head up and face the next challenge! Come on Portugal!’