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Ronaldo reflects on emotional Jota tribute after Portugal mark anniversary with World Cup victory
03rd July, 2026 06:39 AM
Cristiano Ronaldo described it as a ‘coincidence of life’ after Portugal’s World Cup 2026 knockout victory over Croatia on Friday, June 3, 2026, happened almost exactly one year after the tragic passing of his former international teammate, Diogo Jota.
Portugal secured a dramatic 2-1 triumph to advance in the tournament, and after the final whistle, Ronaldo and the rest of the squad gathered for a tribute, posing with Jota’s iconic number 21 shirt in his memory.
Speaking after the match, Ronaldo admitted the timing of the occasion had deeply moved the players.
Coincidence of life
“The coincidence of life, it’s unbelievable,” Ronaldo said. “We knew it before the game. It was such a special moment. We speak today, our group, about that, the coincidence of life. It’s unbelievable.”
The Portugal captain later wore the number 21 jersey himself while taking part in post-match media interviews.
Head coach Roberto Martinez also highlighted the emotional significance of the evening, saying the result meant more than just qualification for the next round.
“For Portuguese fans, this is a very happy day, and also because of the meaning of the game, we’ve moved to the next phase, to the round of 16. In a year where we honoured Diogo Jota.” He added.
Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, lost their lives in a car accident in Spain on July 3, 2025, while the Liverpool forward was travelling back to England to begin pre-season preparations.
Portugal had already paid tribute to Jota earlier in the World Cup, with a black-and-white image of the late forward displayed on the stadium’s giant screen before the team’s opening fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston.
Ronaldo’s milestone
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first goal in the World Cup knockout stage and substitute Goncalo Ramos’s late winner helped Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic round of 32 fixture here on Friday.
With Cristiano Ronaldo (41 years and 147 days) and Luka Modric (40 years and 296 days) on the pitch, it was also the first time that two outfield players aged over 40 have faced each other in a World Cup match. Portugal now faces Spain in the round of 16 in Dallas on July 6, 2026.
