Portugal aim to honour Diogo Jota by winning World Cup
One year after his tragic passing, the Portugal national team is using the memory of Diogo Jota as inspiration at the 2026 World Cup.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: cchana
It has been exactly one year since the tragic car accident that claimed the lives of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. The forward, who was a Liverpool player at the time, passed away just 11 days after his wedding. Today, at the 2026 World Cup, the Portugal squad is channelling that grief into their performance.
Ruben Neves, a close friend of Jota who wears his number 21 shirt during the tournament, revealed he still communicates with his late friend through a group chat. Captain Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest of the squad are wearing special wristbands gifted by the Prime Minister, featuring the names of all players alongside Jota's.
Head coach Roberto Martinez has named Jota an honorary member of the squad and a guiding light for the team. For Portugal, the upcoming clash against Croatia in Toronto with a spot in the last 16 on the line is a deeply emotional occasion.
Diogo is our sun and our light. We want to win the World Cup for him. Roberto Martinez
Martinez notes that Jota's spirit remains a driving force during their training sessions. For the players, honouring their former team-mate, who earned 49 caps for his country, has become the primary motivation as they look to progress in the competition.