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Editor's note: Follow along as Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo face Spain
Fans watching Portugal's hard-fought 2-1 victory over Croatia in the World Cup round of 32 saw an emotional group of players on the winning sideline.
But the team moving on to face Spain was only part of the reason for the heartfelt reaction.
The victory came on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Portuguese striker Diogo Jota's tragic death in a car crash on July 3, 2025, at the age of 28.
Jota made 49 international appearances for Portugal, twice winning the UEFA Nations League. His last appearance for Portugal came just a month before his death, helping his country beat Spain in the Nations League final.
According to a report published by the BBC at the time, Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva were driving a yellow Lamborghini and blew out a tire trying to overtake another vehicle. Their car left the road and caught fire.
A father of three, Jota had just gotten married to his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, 11 days before his death.
The talented forward joined Liverpool in the English Premier League in 2020, scoring a total of 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club in all competitions. During his time with the Reds, Jota helped the club win FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Premier League titles.
Jota also made 49 international appearances for Portugal, twice winning the UEFA Nations League.
Throughout the 2026 World Cup, Portugal players have been wearing bracelets to honor Jota.
His parents were also in attendance for the team's opening match of the tournament in Houston.
"Sometimes you need to hold on to something to give you that extra bit of strength," said Portugal midfielder Rúben Neves, who was was a teammate of Jota's − both at the international level and club level with FC Porto and Wolves.
"[Jota's memory] will be one of the things that can give us that extra strength at certain moments and help us get where we want to go."
Contributing: Andres Soto
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happened to Diogo Jota? Portugal players honor late teammate at World Cup
Continue reading...
Fans watching Portugal's hard-fought 2-1 victory over Croatia in the World Cup round of 32 saw an emotional group of players on the winning sideline.
But the team moving on to face Spain was only part of the reason for the heartfelt reaction.
The victory came on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Portuguese striker Diogo Jota's tragic death in a car crash on July 3, 2025, at the age of 28.
Jota made 49 international appearances for Portugal, twice winning the UEFA Nations League. His last appearance for Portugal came just a month before his death, helping his country beat Spain in the Nations League final.
What happened to Diogo Jota?
According to a report published by the BBC at the time, Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva were driving a yellow Lamborghini and blew out a tire trying to overtake another vehicle. Their car left the road and caught fire.
A father of three, Jota had just gotten married to his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, 11 days before his death.
The talented forward joined Liverpool in the English Premier League in 2020, scoring a total of 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club in all competitions. During his time with the Reds, Jota helped the club win FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Premier League titles.
Jota also made 49 international appearances for Portugal, twice winning the UEFA Nations League.
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Portugal players remember Diogo Jota
Throughout the 2026 World Cup, Portugal players have been wearing bracelets to honor Jota.
His parents were also in attendance for the team's opening match of the tournament in Houston.
"Sometimes you need to hold on to something to give you that extra bit of strength," said Portugal midfielder Rúben Neves, who was was a teammate of Jota's − both at the international level and club level with FC Porto and Wolves.
"[Jota's memory] will be one of the things that can give us that extra strength at certain moments and help us get where we want to go."
Contributing: Andres Soto
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happened to Diogo Jota? Portugal players honor late teammate at World Cup
Continue reading...
