Portugal secured a dramatic victory against Croatia, but the post-match celebrations turned deeply emotional as captain Cristiano Ronaldo led a heartfelt tribute to his late teammate Diogo Jota.
After the final whistle, Ronaldo appeared with Jota’s No. 21 jersey during the team group photo, holding it close before wearing it himself. He then looked up to the sky and raised two fingers in a symbolic gesture of respect, visibly overcome with emotion.
The win came just a day before the first anniversary of Jota’s passing. The entire Portuguese squad paid tribute to their former teammate, with emotions running high during the post-match “lap of honour,” where Ronaldo was seen in tears.
Speaking to official broadcasters, Ronaldo said, “I was very emotional. Today has a special meaning because almost exactly a year ago we lost Diogo Jota.”
He added in an interview with Sport TV Portugal, “We know he is with us. The best way to honour him was to win.”
Match-winner Gonçalo Ramos, who scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, said the team constantly speaks about Jota. “He gives us strength. Today’s victory and progressing to this stage of the tournament are also for his memory.”
Forward Rafael Leão echoed similar sentiments, saying the team believed from the start and carried Jota’s memory with them throughout the match. “It felt like he was always with us,” he said.
Diogo Jota tragically died on July 3, 2025, in a car accident in Spain’s Zamora province. He was travelling with his brother André when their Lamborghini lost control on the A-52 motorway near Sanabria and caught fire, killing both instantly.
For Portugal, the victory in the knockout stage was more than just a result—it became a deeply emotional tribute to a beloved teammate and a lasting remembrance of his legacy.