- Portugal Honour Diogo Jota With Emotional Tribute After World Cup Victory Over Croatia
- Cristiano Ronaldo led an emotional tribute to the late Diogo Jota.
- Portugal will face Spain in the Round of 16.
Portugal paid an emotional tribute to the late Diogo Jota on Friday after securing a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia to reach the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The victory, which set up a last 16 clash against Spain, came on the first anniversary of Jota’s death, making the occasion even more significant for the Portuguese squad.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that following the final whistle in Toronto, captain Cristiano Ronaldo wore a special shirt bearing Jota’s iconic No. 21 before he and his teammates gathered in the centre of the pitch to raise it in honour of the former Liverpool forward.
Earlier in the evening, fans inside the stadium applauded as Jota’s image appeared on the giant screen during the closing moments of Portugal’s national anthem. Ronaldo, who played alongside Jota in 32 international matches, was visibly emotional during the tribute.
Ahead of the encounter, Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez said the team remained motivated by the memory of the late forward.
“Diogo is our sun and our light,” Martinez said.
“We want to win the World Cup for him.”
Friday marked one year since Jota and his younger brother, Andre Silva, died in a car crash in Spain on July 3, 2025.
Jota, who was 28, died just 11 days after marrying his long term partner, Rute Cardoso.
The Portugal international was travelling back to Liverpool for pre season preparations by road and ferry after doctors advised him not to fly following minor surgery. Reports indicated that the Lamborghini he was travelling in suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle, causing the fatal crash.
Throughout Portugal’s World Cup campaign, the players have continued to honour Jota’s memory, with tributes serving as a source of inspiration as they pursue a place in the quarter finals. The team will now face Spain in one of the standout fixtures of the Round of 16.
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