Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo pay tribute to Diogo Jota at the 2026 FIFA World Cup one year after his death

The Portuguese team and their star player remembered their teammate, who had been eager to feature in the tournament.

The emotional qualification of Portugal to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 2-1 win over Croatia was defined by something far greater than the result itself: the farewell of Luka Modric, the record night of Cristiano Ronaldo—and a deeply moving tribute to the late Portuguese forward Diogo Jota.

In the same match where Portugal advanced to the next round, the national team paid an emotional tribute to their teammate, who wore the number 21 shirt and passed away on July 3, 2025, at the age of 28 following a traffic accident in Zamora, Spain.

The Liverpool forward, who had been eagerly awaiting what would have been his first World Cup appearance, was remembered on the first anniversary of his death through visible gestures inside the stadium and an emotional atmosphere within the Portuguese squad.

A MOVING TRIBUTE

Before kick-off, organizers projected images of Diogo Jota on the stadium screens, while Portuguese players wore black armbands and commemorative details in his honor.

Fans inside the Toronto stadium also displayed banners paying tribute to him. The emotional weight of the occasion was heightened by its proximity to July 3, 2026—the exact first anniversary of his passing.

During the national anthem, several Portuguese players were visibly emotional, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who shared a close bond with the forward at international level.

After the final whistle, Ronaldo was seen wearing a special tribute shirt dedicated to Jota, while the entire squad applauded him in a gesture that deeply moved those present, echoing similar tributes seen at previous tournaments.

It is also worth noting that Rúben Neves continues to wear the number 21 in honor of his close friend and teammate.

A PLAYER WHO NEVER HOT HIS WORLD CUP DEBUT

Diogo Jota, a Liverpool forward and regular member of the Portuguese national team, had been widely regarded as an important part of the country’s World Cup project.

He was expected to feature at this tournament—what would have been his first World Cup—after missing Qatar 2022 due to a serious calf injury suffered in October of that year.

His passing in 2025 left a profound void in Portuguese football and within the national team, which has continued to keep his memory alive in every competition.

At the 2026 World Cup, Jota’s legacy has been symbolically integrated into the squad’s journey as a permanent tribute, reinforcing the idea that his impact endures far beyond his absence on the pitch.