From Patrick Vieira vs. Roy Keane to Maxi López vs. Mauri Icardi, football has seldom been shy of captivating and, occasionally, rather crazy individual rivalries.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the all-time greats; there’s no disputing that. His perpetual battle for hearts and minds with Lionel Messi has long come to define his storied career, but in older age, Portugal’s captain is starting to pick more peculiar fights.
Who’d have thought an Irish centre back currently plying his trade in England’s second tier would be so adept at rumbling Piers Morgan’s chum?
Ronaldo seemingly never forgot Dara O’Shea’s antics before a missed penalty during Portugal’s 2–1 victory over the Republic of Ireland four years ago, venting his frustration on a bleak Portuguese night in Dublin on Thursday via a swing of the elbow to O’Shea’s midriff.
The first red card of his international career ensued, and Ronaldo is now at risk of missing games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
