Ronaldo puts on No. 21 shirt to honour Diogo Jota after Portugal's win
Toronto, July 3
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. paid an emotional tribute to former teammate Diogo Jota after Portugal's 2-1 World Cup win over Croatia in Toronto on Friday, a day that marked exactly one year since Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident in western Spain.
Ronaldo, who scored Portugal's opening goal of the round-of-32 matchup with a penalty, put on Jota's No. 21 Portugal jersey following the final whistle and pointed to the sky with tears in his eyes.
"We knew it before the game, it was such a special moment," Ronaldo told Fox. "We speak today, our group, about the coincidence of life, it's unbelievable. I was amazed because the situation of today means a lot to us, not only because we won the game but also the way."
Speaking to Portugal's Sport TV, Ronaldo said, "We know he is present with us and it only made sense to win today to honour him in the best way."
Jota, who played 49 times for Portugal, scoring 14 goals, tragically passed away last year on July 3 after he and his 25-year-old brother, Silva, were involved in a fatal car accident.
A month after Jota's death, Portugal chose to honour him by transferring his No. 21 national team jersey to his close friend and former teammate Ruben Neves.
Jota was part of the team that won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and again in 2025, when Portugal beat Spain in the final. Just a few weeks before his death he celebrated that success with his teammates. His brother Silva, who was also a professional footballer with Portuguese second-tier club Penafiel.
The Spanish police said that Jota's car went off the road while trying to overtake another vehicle. The car had a tyre blowout and caught fire. Both Jota and his brother Andre died at the scene.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a football fan from Kerala, this brings tears to my eyes. The way Ronaldo put on that jersey and pointed to the sky - that's pure emotion, not just PR. Jota must be smiling from above. 🙏
Heartbreaking story, but beautiful tribute by Ronaldo and the team. Losing both sons in one accident is unimaginable for any parent. My condolences to the Jota family.
Ronaldo showed why he's a legend - not just for goals, but for his heart. In our Indian culture, we also believe in honoring ancestors and those who've passed. This gesture transcends football. Beautiful moment. 🌟
Sports can be so powerful. This shows how much teammates care for each other, even years later. Respect to Ronaldo for keeping Jota's memory alive. 🙌
This is what makes football beautiful - the emotions, the brotherhood, the memories. But honestly, it also makes me think about road safety in India. We lose so many lives in accidents too. Be safe everyone! 🏍️🚗
Yaar, I'm not crying, you are crying! 😭 The timing - exactly one year later, and they win. Destiny
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