Portugal capped their dramatic 2-1 World Cup win over Croatia with an emotional salute to Diogo Jota. The match came a year after the Liverpool forward died in a car crash in Spain, just 11 days after marrying his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso. His brother, Andre Silva, was also killed in the 3 July 2025 accident.
At full-time, Cristiano Ronaldo pulled on a special shirt bearing Jota’s number 21, and the squad gathered to raise it together. Earlier, as Portugal’s anthem concluded in Toronto, Jota’s photo appeared on the big screen to loud cheers. Ronaldo looked visibly moved, having played alongside Jota 32 times for the national team. Coach Roberto Martinez, who named Jota an honorary “plus-one” when he announced his squad in May, said before kickoff that the team wants to win the World Cup in his honor, calling Jota “our sun and our light.”
Jota, 28, was driving back to Liverpool for pre-season—traveling by car and ferry on medical advice after minor surgery and a title-winning campaign—when his Lamborghini veered off the road due to a tire blowout while overtaking. Close friend Ruben Neves said he still messages Jota in a WhatsApp group with Rute and Diogo, keeping the chat archived so he can continue to send notes whenever something meaningful happens.