Portugal to honour late Diogo Jota with commemorative wristbands at World Cup
Miami, June 14
Portugal will pay tribute to former forward Diogo Jota during their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign by wearing special commemorative wristbands, midfielder Vitinha said ahead of their Group K opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo next week.
According to Reuters, the wristbands, presented to the squad by Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, feature the names of all current players along with that of Jota, who died alongside his brother in a car accident in northwestern Spain last year.
Jota, who earned 49 caps and scored 14 goals for Portugal, remains a cherished figure within the national team, and his teammates have chosen to carry his memory onto the pitch during the tournament.
"Basically, the story of the wristband is, when we went to meet with the Prime Minister, he offered us this wristband," Vitinha told reporters, according to Reuters.
"They made sure that it was a wristband that we could wear on the pitch. It has all the specifics for us to be able to enter the pitch with it, with the names of all the players plus the special name of Diogo Jota," he added.
Vitinha further added, "He let us choose if we wanted to use it or not, how (we use it), during the day or during the match. We received it with a lot of affection, and we chose to use it."
Portugal begin their World Cup campaign on Wednesday and arrive at the tournament with high expectations after a strong run of form in recent years.
However, Vitinha insisted the squad is approaching the competition with caution despite its wealth of talent.
The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who has won consecutive UEFA Champions League titles with the French club, said humility would be key if Portugal are to make a deep run in the tournament after their quarter-final exit in Qatar four years ago.
"I wouldn't say we're the favourites, we have great quality and capacity to advance far in the tournament," he said.
"We know the right path is to be humble and play the right game. We have the talent, all we need is the technical and tactical aspects (to come together)," he added, according to the report.
Vitinha also acknowledged the unique challenges posed by a World Cup being staged across three countries, citing travel demands and varying weather conditions as factors teams will have to manage throughout the competition.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While this is a nice gesture, I hope the team doesn't let emotions distract them from their game. Portugal has some of the best players in the world - Ronaldo, Felix, Leao. They need to focus on winning, not just wearing wristbands. Just my two cents as a fan.
What a class act from the Portuguese Prime Minister and the team. In India, we also see such tributes for our cricketers who pass away. It's beautiful how football unites people across cultures. Diogo Jota may be gone, but his legacy lives on. 🇵🇹💔
I think this is a wonderful tribute, but I wonder about the practicality. Wristbands during a football match could be uncomfortable or distracting. Still, the sentiment is beautiful and it's clear how much Jota meant to his teammates. RIP Diogo.
As someone who lost a close friend in an accident, I can understand how the team must feel. These gestures mean a lot. But Portugal should be careful - they have a strong team but need to stay grounded. The World Cup in three countries will be tough, especially with all the travel. Good luck to them!
Such a sad story, but wonderful tribute. Jota was a talented player - I still remember his hat-trick against Liverpool a few years ago. The wristband design sounds thoughtful too, with all player names included. This is the kind of team spirit that can inspire them to go far! ✨
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