Portugal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia in a World Cup first-round match on Thursday, a win that carried significant emotional weight as the team honored their late former teammate Diogo Jota. The match took place on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Jota's death.
Following the game, star player Cristiano Ronaldo was seen wearing Jota's No. 21 jersey, pointing to the sky in a poignant tribute. "We knew it before the game, it was a so special moment," Ronaldo told Fox. "We speak today, our group, about the coincidence of life, it’s unbelievable. I was amazed because the situation of today it means a lot to us, not only because we won the game but also the way."
Diogo Jota passed away at the age of 28 on July 3 of the previous year in a car accident in Spain that also resulted in the death of his brother Andre. Jota's death occurred just 11 days after his wedding, and he left behind his wife and three children. He was a prominent player for both the Portuguese National Team and the Premier League club Liverpool, though he missed the 2022 World Cup due to an injury.
During his career, Jota represented Portugal in 49 matches, scoring 14 goals. Teammate Goncalo Ramos emphasized Jota's continued presence within the team's spirit. "Every day it’s special because we talk about (Jota) every day," Ramos told reporters, per ESPN. "He gives us strength and it’s very special to have won today and to have reached one the most important phases of this competition."
Portugal staged a comeback to defeat Croatia, with Ronaldo leveling the score in the 68th minute. Goncalo Ramos scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Croatia had a potential equalizer disallowed by VAR in extra time. Portugal is now set to face Spain in the Round of 16.
"Regarding the emotions, we always believed, we believed from the very beginning," said Portugal's Rafael Leao, according to ESPN. "And there was an additional, crucial factor: Diogo Jota, who is always with us and helped us as well."