Portugal has just beaten Croatia 2-1 and qualified for the 2026 World Cup round of 16 in Toronto. But the result faded into the background as soon as the final whistle blew.
Cristiano Ronaldo put on the No. 21 jersey, Diogo Jota’s, and could no longer hold back his tears. He pointed to the sky. Behind him, the entire Portuguese squad did the same, posing with their fans wearing the jersey of their former teammate. Before the match, he had already broken down during the anthem, when the stadium showed an image of Jota on the screens.
The tribute came exactly one year after the death of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, in an accident in Spain on July 3, 2025. Ronaldo, who scored from the penalty spot in the match, still has not confirmed whether this will be his last World Cup. What was clear, though, is that for him and for an entire country, Jota is still on the pitch. 🕊️
Watch the moving moment: