Cristiano Ronaldo finally breaks silence on missing Portugal teammate Diogo Jota's funeral: 'Wherever I go, it is...'

Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from the funeral of football star Diogo Jota in July had raised eyebrows across the football community, especially since the two had starred in Portugal’s victory in the UEFA Nations League.

Liverpool star Jota's untimely demise at the age of 28 in a car accident in Spain that also took the life of his 26-year-old brother Andre Silva had sent shockwaves across the world. The forward passed away shortly after helping the ‘Reds’ win their second Premier League title in addition to Portugal’s Nations League triumph, and just 11 days and marrying his partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children.

Several important figures including Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had gathered in the town of Gondomar to pay their respects to the siblings. Several of Jota’s Liverpool and Portugal teammates were also present. While Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson carried floral tributes for the two brothers, Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves was a pallbearer for Jota’s casket.

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Ronaldo, meanwhile, faced criticism on social media for not turning up to pay his respects to the young football star who died in the prime of his life. In a chat with eminent television presenter Piers Morgan, however, the Al-Nassr star finally broke his silence on his decision to skip Jota’s funeral, revealing that he not visited a cemetery since his father passed away.

“Two things; people criticise me a lot. I don’t care about that. When your conscience is good and free, you don’t have to worry about what people say. But one of the things I don’t do? After my father died, I have never been to a cemetery again. When you know me and you know my reputation? Wherever I go, it is a circus. I don’t go out because, if I go, the attention goes to me. I don’t want this sort of attention,” the Portuguese mega-star said on Piers Morgan Uncensored.

“I don’t like it when you go to a sensitive moment to do interviews, to speak about him, to speak about football. C’mon guys, what is this? This shows how life is a circus, sometimes. I am not a part of that. If you want to be a part of this world, good luck, but I will be a part of another side. People can continue to criticise. I felt good with my decision,” he added.

Jota’s tragic demise had led to an outpouring of tributes from all over the world, with a minute’s silence observed in several games including in the FIFA Club World Cup – which was underway in the United States at the time of his death.

A minute’s silence was also observed at London’s Wembley Stadium during the FA Community Shield face-off between Liverpool and Crystal Palace. A similar moment was observed at Anfield during the opening game of the Premier League season, with Jota’s family present at the venue for Liverpool’s 4-2 victory over Bournemouth. Jota was also remembered at the Ballon d’Or award ceremony in Paris in September.

And while Ronaldo did not attend his funeral, he did take to social media to pay a heartfelt tribute to his teammate.

“It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married. To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you,” the 40-year-old had written on X.

Ronaldo had also paid an tribute to Jota during Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Armenia in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in September, making a heartfelt gesture after scoring the first of his two goals in the 21st minute.