Ronaldo set for Dublin reunion after incident that infuriated Irish fans

Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to make a return to Dublin this November, in what is anticipated to be his final appearance in the Irish capital. The city holds a special place in his career—he made his Real Madrid debut at Tallaght Stadium back in July 2009, playing in a friendly against Shamrock Rovers.

However, the Portuguese superstar has also sparked controversy among Irish fans. A few years ago, after scoring two late goals that secured a victory for Portugal over Stephen Kenny’s Republic of Ireland, Ronaldo infuriated supporters. His abrupt departure from an interview with RTE’s Tony O'Donoghue led to a flood of reactions on social media. Some fans lambasted his behavior, with one remarking, “Absolute disgrace how he left that interview. He has no respect. All about him,” while another observed, “Ronaldo walking off during an interview with Tony O'Donoghue. Nice guy…” Not everyone was critical, however—a few defended his actions, suggesting that he had already answered a couple of questions and likely had many more interviews scheduled.

Now 40 years old, Ronaldo continues to dazzle on the international stage, holding the record for the most international goals scored, with 136 for Portugal. As he prepares for his potential final match in Dublin, the mix of nostalgia and controversy underscores the complex legacy of a player whose career has been marked by both extraordinary achievements and moments of heated debate among fans.