 "Cristiano Ronaldo paid an emotional tribute to late Diogo Jota after scoring against Armenia. Image: Reuters")
Cristiano Ronaldo hit back at his critics with an emotional tribute to late Portuguese striker Diogo Jota in the national team’s 5-0 win over Armenia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers on Saturday. Ronaldo had been facing criticism ever since he skipped Jota’s funeral in Gondomar.
The former Liverpool forward Jota died on 3 July 2025 after a car accident near the northwestern city of Zamora, Spain. His brother Andre Silva, who was a football player as well, also lost his life in the tragic incident.
Ronaldo silences critics in Portugal
A grand funeral was held on 5 July at Jota’s hometown of Gondomar to pay tribute to the footballer and Silva. However, the 40-year-old Ronaldo, Jota’s Portugal teammate, stayed away from the event, sparking a debate in the country. A large number of fans had accused Ronaldo of disrespecting Jota and his family .
It has to be noted that Ronaldo was one of the first to pay tribute to Jota on social media after the news of his death broke out. “It doesn’t make sense. We were just together with the national team, you had just gotten married,” Ronaldo wrote on X . “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.”
Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, in an Instagram post, explained that the footballer consciously took the decision about skipping the funeral to avoid becoming the centre of attraction during the event.
“When our father died, the cameras and crowds made everything unbearable,” she wrote. “Cristiano didn’t want that for Diogo’s family. He chose not to make their pain bigger.”
But the explanation fell on deaf ears as fans continued to attack Ronaldo for being insensitive.
Ronaldo pays tribute to Jota
The Portugal captain on Saturday paid a glowing tribute to Jota in his own style as he scored the first of his two goals in the 21st minute against Armenia. This was Portugal’s first match since Jota’s demise.
After scoring the goal, Ronaldo started pointing towards the skies, remembering Jota, who wore the No 21 jersey for Portugal.
“Cristiano’s gesture was perfect,” a fan wrote on the post-match coverage. “For 21 to come in the 21st minute, it felt like destiny.”
Other Portuguese players also paid their tributes to Jota. Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo remembered Jota through their gestures after scoring their respective goals, while Ruben Neves wore shirt number 21 to honour the former footballer.
A moment of silence was also observed at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Armenia as fans paid tribute to Jota.