A year after his tragic passing, footballer Diogo Jota continues to be a source of inspiration for his teammates with Portugal and Liverpool. Jota died in a car accident in Spain on July 3 of the previous year, leaving behind his wife, Rute Cardoso, and his parents.
Portugal's squad has visibly honored Jota throughout their World Cup campaign. Every member of the team wears wristbands in his memory. Following a victory over Croatia, Cristiano Ronaldo was seen wearing a Jota shirt, displaying it to the fans and pointing to the sky, appearing emotional. Portugal's manager, Roberto Martinez, has spoken about Jota's impact, stating, “Diogo has become a real inspiration inside this group. He was someone who brought absolute intensity to every training session, with no exception – someone who believed deeply in what this squad could achieve, who wanted to win titles for Portugal more than almost anyone I have ever worked with.” Martinez added that Jota's standards, energy, and conviction are attributes the players aim to carry forward, emphasizing, “Diogo is always with us. He’s a light that reminds us all to be present every day, to give everything we have, because tomorrow is never guaranteed.”
The emotional impact of Jota's death extends to his former club, Liverpool. Scotland captain and ex-teammate Andy Robertson received a poignant letter from Jota's widow, Rute, before the World Cup. In the message, she expressed her gratitude to Robertson for not forgetting Diogo and for carrying his memory, stating, “Thank you for turning the pain of loss into strength and into something so beautiful.”
Members of the Liverpool squad have shared memories of Jota, including a trip to the Cheltenham horse-racing festival in 2025. Jota, who embraced aspects of British sporting culture, was nicknamed ‘MacJota’ by Robertson and was known to be a keen darts fan. This year, Robertson organized a similar trip to Cheltenham for members of Liverpool's non-playing staff, the social media team, and technical director Julian Ward, who wore flat caps and carried a Jota No. 20 Liverpool shirt and a Portugal flag.
Other players find unique ways to cope with their grief and maintain Jota's memory. Ruben Neves, a close friend of Jota's, wears his former No. 21 international jersey for Portugal and sends text messages to Jota's mobile number in a group chat with his widow. Manchester City player Matheus Nunes reportedly read a biography about Jota on the team's plane to the United States for their World Cup camp.
Footballers at both club and international levels are navigating the difficult process of grieving for a peer. The notes suggest that players have grappled with how to act in the face of such a profound loss, experiencing grief at unexpected moments over the past year. As the one-year mark since Jota's death is reached, the notes indicate that his former teammates remain inspired by his passion for the game.