Cristiano Ronaldo paid a touching tribute to the late Diogo Jota after Portugal secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Croatia in the round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 3.
Portugal secured their place in the round of 16 after an intense match that lasted 90 minutes plus 19 minutes of added time. Three Croatia goals were disallowed by VAR, allowing Portugal to complete a thrilling comeback and progress to the next round.
Ronaldo played a key role in the victory by converting a penalty, but it was his heartfelt gesture after the final whistle that moved football fans around the world.
Instead of celebrating as usual, the 41-year-old captain went to the technical area and picked up Diogo Jota’s Portugal number 21 shirt. Ronaldo put his shirt over his shoulders before raising his hand towards the sky in a silent tribute to his late teammate.
The emotional moment had an even deeper meaning. Jota’s first and last international goals before his tragic passing both came against Croatia, making Ronaldo’s gesture even more symbolic.
It’s been exactly one year since the football world was shocked by Jota’s tragic death. His memory remained close to the Portuguese team throughout the tournament.
During their World Cup campaign, Portugal’s players also wore commemorative wristbands bearing Jota’s name as a way to honor his legacy and remember his contribution to Portuguese football.
On the other hand, Croatia’s journey to the World Cup ended in the round of 32. For many fans, the match may have marked Luka Modrić’s last appearance on football’s biggest stage.
After the final whistle, Ronaldo and Modrić embraced each other warmly, sharing a heartfelt moment of mutual respect that reflects their long-standing friendship and extraordinary careers.
The match itself was full of drama until the end. Croatia thought they had scored an injury-time equalizer that would have forced extra time, but VAR ruled the goal offside, crushing their hopes of prolonging the match.
Croatia’s players collapse in disappointment as the final whistle confirms their elimination.
Despite the heartbreaking result, Croatia earned widespread praise for their determined and resilient performance against one of the tournament favourites.
Sources: kenh14
