Cristiano Ronaldo paid an emotional tribute to his late former teammate Diogo Jota by wearing his No. 21 Portugal jersey on his one-year anniversary.
The Portuguese footballer made the heartfelt gesture after Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Croatia in the FIFA World Cup. He also pointed to the sky in an emotional gesture, and there were reports of him appearing visibly moved. Ronaldo described the timing as “coincidence of life”
The Portugal forward reportedly died in a tragic car accident, along with his brother André Silva, on July 3, 2025, in Cernadilla, Zamora Province, Spain. He was 28, and his brother was 25.
Besides Ronaldo, the entire squad wore commemorative wristbands featuring the names of all players and a tribute to Jota. The bands were gifted by Portugal’s Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro and approved under FIFA regulations.
Liverpool FC installed a “Forever 20” memorial at Anfield in tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother. It has been designed by renowned sculptor Emma Rodgers.
Details explored as Cristiano Ronaldo pays tribute to Diogo Jota on his one-year anniversary
One year has passed since the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, and the football community continues to remember one of its most talented and beloved players.
The incident occurred at 12:30 am on the A-52 motorway in the Zamora province of northwestern Spain when their Lamborghini veered off the road due to a tyre blowout and burst into flames. It happened when Jota and his brother, André Silva, were overtaking another car, causing them to lose control.
His younger brother was also a professional footballer. The brothers were travelling to Santander, as Jota had been advised to avoid air travel following lung surgery.
The Portugal international tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, just 11 days before his passing. The couple had been in a relationship for more than a decade and had three children.
Liverpool unveiled a permanent “Forever 20” memorial at Anfield to honor Jota and his brother. The sculpture reveals their shirt numbers, 20 and 30, if viewed from different angles. It also features the lyrics to Jota’s famous song, His Name is Diogo sung by Liverpool-born musician Jamie Webster.
The memorial, which has been placed at 97 Avenue at Anfield, also includes personal elements like a PlayStation controller for Diogo Jota’s love for gaming. A single flower placed in tribute has also been cast in bronze.
Cristiano Ronaldo paid a tribute to Diogo Jota as he donned Jota’s No. 21 Portugal jersey. He wore it during the post-match celebrations and appeared visibly emotional during a moment. He also shared a post on Instagram, honoring the legendary athlete, stating:
“We won for us, Diogo and Portugal!!! LETS GOOOOO!!!!”
During an interview with Katie Shanahan of FOX Sports, Cristiano Ronaldo explained that their victory was a special moment. He said:
“Unbelievable. We knew it before the game. It was a so special moment. We speak today, our group, about that. The coincidence of life, it’s unbelievable. I was amazed because the situations of today, it means a lot to us. Not only because we won the game, but also the way.”
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez said in May that losing Jota was an “unforgettable moment and a very difficult moment.” He added:
“…it was a responsibility for all of us to fight for Diogo Jota’s dream and for the example that he was in our national team….He will be the plus one forever.”
Ahead of Portugal’s opening 2026 World Cup group-stage match against DR Congo, Diogo Jota was honored on the stadium screens during a pre-game tribute. His parents were in attendance and appeared visibly emotional as the touching gesture played out.
Edited by Aastha Dass