As criticism mounted over Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from the funeral of late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota, the football star’s sister, Katia Aveiro, took to social media to fiercely defend him, declaring she would block anyone who insults her brother.
Previously on July 3, Jota and his younger brother André Silva tragically passed away in a car accident near Zamora, Spain, on July 3. The footballer’s funeral took place quietly in their hometown of Gondomar, Portugal, with many football figures in attendance, including Virgil van Dijk, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Rúben Neves. However, Ronaldo’s absence sparked heated criticism, especially after reports emerged that he was on vacation in Mallorca.
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The father of striker Diogo Jota is comforted by relatives during the memorial service for his two sons in Gondomar.
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A large number of locals and fans patiently waited to enter the chapel and say goodbye to the two ill-fated players.
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Teammates carried the coffin alongside a farewell wreath shaped like Diogo Jota’s iconic number 20 jersey
Critics accused the Portugal captain of being “selfish” and disrespectful, with some pointing out that other players flew across continents to attend. However, several media outlets reported that Ronaldo stayed away out of concern that his presence might overshadow the ceremony. It also noted his emotional trauma tied to his own father’s funeral in 2005, coupled with the emotional weight of losing Jota, a Nations League teammate and friend.
On Instagram, Katia Aveiro condemned the wave of public judgment, “Silence is also a form of empathy. Not every absence is disrespectful, and not every presence is supportive,” she wrote, adding, “Criticizing without knowing the full story is ignorance. If someone sends me a message criticizing my brother, I’ll block them instantly. I’m exhausted. Society is sick.”
Katia Aveiro – Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister – posted these IG stories earlier to address her brother’s absence from the funeral. She did it in portuguese so I will try my best to translate it!! (Thread) pic.twitter.com/2Gmr6Tnnoa
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— milene ✮ (@lewguler) July 6, 2025
She also recalled their father’s chaotic funeral, writing, “When our father died, we had to deal with cameras and gawking strangers at the cemetery. People climbed graves just to see us. There was no respect, no genuine mourning.”
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Referring to Ronaldo’s critics in the media and online, she said, “It’s shameful that instead of honoring a grieving family who lost two sons, some TV commentators and social media channels chose to focus on one absence. That’s disgraceful.”
Katia emphasized that Ronaldo mourned privately and immediately expressed condolences via social media, posting a heartfelt tribute to Jota’s family, and stated,“This doesn’t make sense. We were just together with the national team. You just got married. I pray that strength reaches your family and loved ones. You’ll always be with them.”
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