Portugal Honors Diogo Jota After World Cup Victory
Portugal paid a heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota following their significant World Cup win against Croatia.
It has been one year since Jota, then a Liverpool player, tragically died in a car accident in Spain, just 11 days after marrying his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso.
His brother, Andre Silva, also lost his life in the accident on 3 July 2025.
At the conclusion of Portugal's dramatic 2-1 victory that secured their place in the last 16 against Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo donned a special '21' shirt in memory of Jota before the team gathered, holding the shirt aloft.
Before the match, near the end of Portugal's national anthem, Jota's image was displayed on the big screen in Toronto, eliciting a loud cheer from the supporters.
Ronaldo appeared visibly emotional as cameras focused on him, having played alongside Jota 32 times for the national team.
"Diogo is our sun and our light," said Portugal manager Roberto Martinez before the match, having named Jota as an honorary 'plus-one' player when announcing his squad in May.
"We want to win the World Cup for him."
Jota, aged 28, was returning to Liverpool for pre-season when the Lamborghini he was in left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle.
He was traveling by car and ferry to England as doctors had advised against flying after he had undergone minor surgery. He had celebrated winning the Premier League title two months prior.
"I still talk to him," said Ruben Neves, a close friend and former Porto, Wolves, and Portugal teammate, during the match build-up.
"We have a WhatsApp group with Rute and Diogo, and it's still there, and we continue to talk there," he told the Portuguese TV show Alta Definicao.
"Whenever something special happens, I have the conversations archived on my WhatsApp so I can continue to send him messages."
'A symbol of hope & inspiration - Jota was a Portuguese hero'
Humble, generous, and a star, Jota left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered.
'Diogo's Dream Was to Play at World Cup'
"With you by our side, everything is possible. Thank you, Portugal!" Jota wrote on social media after Portugal defeated Spain to win the Nations League in Stuttgart a month before his death.
He became a symbol of hope and inspiration in Portugal, rising from his hometown club Gondomar to Pacos de Ferreira, then Porto, Wolverhampton, and finally Liverpool.
Jota's journey was notable as a rare example of an elite Portuguese footballer who never spent time at the major academies of Benfica, Sporting, or Porto.
His death has had a profound impact on the national team, for whom he scored 14 goals in 49 appearances.
Alongside the pressure of expectations at this tournament, Portugal's players also carry the grief of losing a teammate who would have been part of the squad this summer.
Though his absence is deeply felt, Jota's memory remains strong and his presence has been acknowledged throughout the World Cup, from Houston to Miami, and now Toronto.
As on Thursday night, a black and white photo of Jota celebrating a goal for Portugal has been shown on big screens before matches during the national anthem.
"Diogo was a player deeply loved by the Portuguese people," said Miguel de Silva, the Portuguese-Canadian owner of Amigos da Dundas sports bar in Toronto's Little Portugal neighborhood.
Jota's picture has appeared on the big screen at Portugal matches during the 2026 World Cup
Fans have attended Portugal's matches wearing shirts bearing Jota's name, while players including captain Ronaldo wear special wristbands during games in tribute.
The wristbands, in Portugal's green and red colors, were gifts from Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and feature the names of all squad members alongside Jota's.
"The story of the wristband is, when we went to meet with the prime minister, he offered us this wristband," said midfielder Vitinha.
"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 name of all the players plus the special name of Diogo Jota."
Vitinha played in the opening group game against DR Congo in Houston on 17 June, where Jota's parents, Joaquim and Isabel, were guests. He was seen wiping away tears during an emotional tribute to the brothers.
"Representing Portugal at this tournament was a dream Diogo nurtured with everyone who loved him," Fifa president Gianni Infantino wrote on social media after meeting the couple.
"While celebrating these moments of togetherness, we continue to keep Diogo and Andre in our thoughts."
'Diogo Will Always Be With Us'
The funeral for Jota and his brother was held in Gondomar, near Porto, on 5 July 2025.
Neves helped carry Jota's coffin into the church just hours after playing with Al Hilal at the Club World Cup in the United States.
The midfielder has since gotten a tattoo on his left calf depicting him embracing Jota, who is wearing his 'Diogo J' Portugal 21 shirt.
Neves has had a tattoo on his calf embracing his close friend
"I and the entire national team will do everything we can to keep Diogo here with us, on our team," Neves said.
"The day after the news, for me, is the most difficult day of my life. The most important aspect for me to be able to play was wanting to play for Diogo first."
Liverpool has unveiled images of a permanent memorial at Anfield honoring Jota and his brother, while Portugal revealed a bronze tribute at their training center near Lisbon.
Martinez stated that Jota's death "hurts beyond football" but that his spirit motivates the team at the World Cup.
Portugal has struggled offensively in the tournament, winning only one of their three group matches. However, the 2016 European champions secured a last-16 berth by defeating Croatia.
"Diogo's dream is still with us and he sets the standards, he sets the light for the direction of this group," added former Belgium coach Martinez.
"Every day is difficult. When we are training, there are always moments when Diogo comes back into our memory.
"I think the anniversary is just a moment that makes this game [against Croatia], Diogo Jota's game.
"Diogo will always be with us."
