Following a tense and emotional World Cup triumph on Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football star, looked upward while donning the number 21 jersey in tribute to his late teammate, Diogo Jota.
The 2-1 win against Croatia marked the anniversary of Jota’s tragic car accident, which took place the day before last year. The team honored his memory after a thrilling match.
“We were all aware before the game that this moment would be particularly special,” Ronaldo shared with media. “Today, within our group, we talked about the coincidences of life, and it really is remarkable,” he continued.
“I was caught off guard because today’s events meant so much to us—not just because of the win, but due to the journey we’ve taken,” he added.
Jota tragically passed away on July 3 last year at just 28 years old, an accident that also took the life of his brother, Andre, who was 26.
This heartbreaking event occurred mere days after Jota had married his wife, with whom he shared three children.
An active player for Portugal’s national team and Liverpool in the English Premier League, Jota was unable to participate in the 2022 World Cup due to an injury.
He made 49 appearances for the national side, scoring 14 goals.
“Every day we discuss him because he remains special to us,” remarked Gonzalo Ramos of Portugal. “He provides us strength, and achieving victory today is immensely meaningful as we progress in this competition,” he noted.
Portugal battled back on Thursday to secure a vital victory against Croatia, with Ronaldo equalizing in the 68th minute and Ramos clinching the win just four minutes into stoppage time.
Although Croatia seemed to have leveled the game in extra time, VAR intervened to annul the goal, setting Portugal up for a clash with Spain in the round of 16.
“We’ve always held onto our belief, especially regarding emotions,” stated Rafael Leao from Portugal. “But there’s something even more significant: Diogo Jota was always with us, supporting us all the way,” he concluded.
