Cristiano Ronaldo has paid his respects to late former Liverpool striker Diogo Jota, on the anniversary of his and his brother Andre Silva’s tragic deaths.
On July 3rd, 2025, Jota and his brother were killed in a car crash, in news that shocked the football world and left his Reds teammates devastated.
Over the past 12 months, endless love has been shown for Jota, with the Portuguese clearly a hugely popular figure both on and off the pitch.
Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup last 32 on Thursday – the early hours of Friday in the UK – on what was sure to be an emotional occasion on the eve of Jota’s death.
Speaking to Fox Sports after the game, Ronaldo described it as a “special” day, as he and his teammates did the ex-Liverpool attacker proud:
“We knew it before the game, it was a so special moment. We speak today, our group, about the coincidence of life, it’s unbelievable. I was amazed because the situation of today it means a lot to us, not only because we won the game but also the way.”
Match-winner Goncalo Ramos also showed his love for Jota, telling Sport TV: “Every day it’s special because we talk about [Jota] every day. He gives us strength and it’s very special to have won today and to have reached one the most important phases of this competition.”
Diogo Jota: Gone but never forgotten at Liverpool
The fact that Portugal won in stoppage time was fitting, and had Jota not tragically lost his life last year, he could easily have been the man to score the dramatic winner instead of Ramos, as he so often did for Liverpool.
What happened to him and his brother remains almost inconceivable, and he will never be forgotten, both as a footballer and more importantly, a great person.
In a lovely touch, Liverpool have officially unveiled a permanent memorial for Jota and Andre called ‘Forever 20′ at Anfield, which “celebrates their lives, their bond, and the love and respect felt for them by family, teammates and supporters across the world.”
It “reveals the numbers 20 and 30, which adorned the back of the brothers’ playing shirts”, and features the lyrics to Jota’s much-loved song.
Gone but never forgotten.