Portuguese star joins national team memorial, leaving Jota’s spot empty as criticism fades

Cristiano Ronaldo, 40 years old, Al Nassr, has once again mourned his teammate Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, finally putting an end to unnecessary controversy.

The Portuguese Football Association issued an official statement on September 2, 2025 (Korea Time), saying, “September 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as a day to honor Jota and Jorge Costa,” commemorating the two players. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro also joined the mourning, awarding medals to the bereaved families.

Pedro Proença, the association president, said, “Diogo Jota and Jorge Costa will never be forgotten. Their contributions to football, as well as their humanity, will remain immortal,” and delivered a tribute.

The memorial service held in Lisbon was attended by Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso, parents, agent Jorge Mendes, and current and former national team colleagues. A bronze-framed display of Jota’s jersey, engraved with “No. 21,” was exhibited at the venue, and special medals were awarded to the bereaved family.

Jota and his younger brother André Silva lost their lives in a traffic accident on a highway near Zamora, Spain, last July. Their funeral was held in their hometown of Gondomar, and numerous colleagues accompanied them on their final journey. The Liverpool squad, as well as Rúben Neves, who was in the U.S. for the Club World Cup, flew in to carry the coffins, choking back tears.

However, Ronaldo was not present. He expressed his grief via social media, writing, “It’s hard to believe. We were just together on the national team… My condolences to the family. Rest in peace, Diogo and André (R.I.P),” but did not attend the funeral.

This led to criticism from fans, who said, “It’s unbecoming of a national team captain.” When it was revealed that Ronaldo was on vacation in Mallorca at the time, voices emerged saying, “Colleagues flew in, but he didn’t show up.”

However, there was a clear reason why Ronaldo did not attend the funeral. He had suffered deep emotional scars 20 years ago at his father’s funeral, overwhelmed by cameras and crowds. He also experienced a similar situation at the funeral of his former agent Mendes’ mother, where indiscriminate autograph requests ruined the atmosphere.

He judged that his presence might disrupt the mourning atmosphere and chose to quietly express his condolences via social media. In fact, during Jota’s funeral, some thoughtless attendees took “selfies” in front of the gravesite, tarnishing the solemnity, leading to the closure of the cemetery. In hindsight, Ronaldo’s choice was justified.

Proença emphasized, “It is unfair to say Ronaldo was distant from Jota’s family. As the national team captain, he felt deeper sorrow than anyone. His physical absence does not diminish his significance. He has never abandoned his family.”

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro also praised, “Ronaldo is not only the world’s best player but also the best person. The reason he always had the best colleagues by his side is because he shares the same values,” directly mentioning Ronaldo’s name at the memorial service.

Ronaldo finally joined his teammates in honoring Jota at the official memorial service held alongside the national team call-up. The national team paid tribute by announcing a 23-man squad instead of the usual 24, leaving Jota’s spot empty.

At the event, Ronaldo stood with the family in front of Jota’s jersey and bowed his head. This moment clearly revealed why he did not attend the funeral and how sincerely he missed his colleague.

In the end, Ronaldo’s choice was correct. The criticism over his absence from the funeral subsided with his attendance at the memorial. Rather, he had chosen not to draw attention to himself in order to respect his colleague until the end. The blame disappeared, leaving only the mature attitude of one who quietly honored his friend.

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※ This article has been translated by Upstage Solar AI.