One year on: Portugal beat Croatia on anniversary of Diogo Jota's death, Ronaldo wears his shirt
Portugal's emotional 2-1 win over Croatia came exactly a year after Diogo Jota died, with the squad dedicating their entire World Cup campaign to their lost teammate.
On the first anniversary of Diogo Jota's death, Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in one of the most emotionally charged nights of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the entire squad dedicating their victory to the man whose name still sits in their team WhatsApp group.
Jota, who died in a traffic accident in Zamora, Spain on July 3, 2025, was 28 years old and at the peak of his powers. He had been a central figure in the Portugal squad that won the Nations League, and his teammates and manager Roberto Martinez have spoken throughout this tournament of feeling his presence with them every time they take the field.
Before kick-off in Atlanta, Jota's image appeared on the stadium screen during the Portuguese national anthem, met with a moment of silence from players on both sides. After the final whistle, Cristiano Ronaldo emerged on the pitch wearing a Portugal shirt carrying Jota's name and the number 21, holding it up to the crowd in a tribute that drew tears from teammates and supporters alike. It was one of the defining images of this World Cup.
Martinez named Jota as an honorary squad member for the tournament, keeping his number 21 empty throughout. Midfielder Ruben Neves revealed that the team's WhatsApp group still includes Jota: "I still talk to him. I archive the conversations and send him messages. We all do." It is a detail that captures both the depth of the loss and the bond that loss has forged among the squad.
Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro gifted the players wristbands bearing Jota's name before the tournament, worn in every match. The symbolism reached its peak on the anniversary night itself, with Goncalo Ramos's 95th-minute header against Croatia giving the tribute a storybook ending that nobody in the squad could have scripted or dared to imagine.
For Ronaldo, who had played alongside Jota throughout their years together in the national setup, the victory carried particular weight. His conversion from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute had put Portugal ahead before Croatia equalised, and when Ramos headed in the winner deep in stoppage time, Ronaldo's immediate reaction was to point skyward.
Portugal now advance to the Round of 16 carrying Jota's memory. Martinez said before the tournament that the squad's singular goal was to win the World Cup for him. One year on from his death, with a last-gasp comeback to their name, they are two victories into that promise.