Ronaldo says Portugal's tribute to Diogo Jota a 'coincidence of life'

Cristiano Ronaldo has described it as a ‘coincidence of life’ that Portugal’s dramatic World Cup victory over Croatia came almost exactly one year after the death of his former international teammate Diogo Jota.

Portugal secured a tense 2-1 victory on Thursday to book their place in the last 16, but the result was accompanied by an emotional tribute to the late Liverpool forward.

After the final whistle, Ronaldo and his team-mates gathered with Jota’s number 21 Portugal shirt in a gesture of remembrance. Ronaldo later wore the same jersey while speaking to the media following the match.

Reflecting on the timing of the victory, the Portugal captain said the squad had spoken about the anniversary before kick-off.

“It is a coincidence of life. It’s unbelievable,” Ronaldo said.

“We knew it before the game. It was a very special moment. We spoke today as a group about the coincidence of life. It’s unbelievable.”

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez said reaching the knockout stage carried extra significance because of the occasion.

“For Portuguese fans, this is a very happy day, not only because we have reached the round of 16, but also because of the meaning of the game,” Martinez said.

“In a year where we honoured Diogo Jota,” he added.

Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a car crash in Spain on 3 July last year while the Liverpool forward was travelling back to England to begin pre-season preparations.

Their deaths prompted an outpouring of tributes from across football, with club and international team-mates remembering Jota as both an outstanding footballer and a respected teammate.

Portugal has continued to honour his memory throughout the tournament. Before their opening World Cup match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Houston, a black-and-white photograph of Jota was displayed on the stadium’s giant screen as players and supporters paid tribute.

The victory over Croatia ensured Portugal’s World Cup campaign continues, but for the players, Thursday’s success also served as a heartfelt tribute to one of their former teammates, whose memory remains deeply felt within the national squad.