Toronto, Jul 03 (V7N) — Portugal's 2-1 victory over Croatia in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was followed by an emotional tribute as captain Cristiano Ronaldo honored the memory of his late national teammate Diogo Jota.
Following the final whistle on Friday, while Portugal celebrated qualification for the Round of 16, Ronaldo emerged wearing a special Portugal jersey bearing Jota's No. 21 on the back. Standing before thousands of supporters in the Toronto stadium, the Portuguese captain raised the shirt in tribute on the first anniversary of Jota's death.
The heartfelt gesture came after Portugal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory through goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonçalo Ramos.
The Portuguese camp had already dedicated the match to Jota before kickoff. During the national anthem, the stadium's giant screen displayed a tribute to the late forward, who died alongside his younger brother, André Silva, in a tragic road accident in Santander, Spain, on July 3, 2025. Jota was 28 years old at the time of his death.
Portugal's victory was sealed after a late Croatian equaliser was ruled out following a VAR review. After the referee's final whistle, Ronaldo and his teammates set aside their celebrations and walked toward the stands holding Jota's No. 21 jersey aloft, drawing an emotional response from supporters inside the stadium.
Portugal have continued to honor Jota throughout their 2026 World Cup campaign. Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva have been wearing black armbands in his memory, while Jota's parents attended Portugal's opening match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a special tribute to their son was displayed on the stadium's giant screen before kickoff.
The victory sends Portugal into the Round of 16, but for the players and fans alike, Friday's celebrations became a poignant remembrance of a teammate whose legacy continues to inspire Portuguese football.
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