Portugal face Croatia in their World Cup round of 32 tie in Toronto on 2 July, a match that falls exactly a year on from the death of forward Diogo Jota, whose loss continues to shape the squad’s emotional journey through the tournament.
Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva were killed on 3 July 2025 when their car left the road in northwestern Spain due to a tyre blowout. The Liverpool forward had been travelling by car and ferry back to England for pre season, having been advised against flying following minor surgery, just weeks after helping Portugal beat Spain to win the Nations League.
Head coach Roberto Martinez named Jota an honorary member of his World Cup squad when he announced his selection in May.
“Diogo is our sun and our light,” Martinez said. “We want to win the World Cup for him.”
Midfielder Ruben Neves, Jota’s close friend from their days together at Porto and Wolves, now wears his former teammate’s number 21 shirt for Portugal. Neves revealed he still messages Jota through an old WhatsApp group shared with his widow, Rute Cardoso, and has had a tattoo inked on his calf depicting the pair embracing.
“The most important aspect for me to be able to play was wanting to play for Diogo first,” Neves said.
Tributes have run throughout Portugal’s campaign. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro gifted the squad wristbands bearing every player’s name alongside Jota’s, while a photograph of the forward has been shown on big screens before matches as the national anthem plays. Jota’s parents, Joaquim and Isabel, were guests at Portugal’s opening game against DR Congo in Houston, where they were seen wiping away tears during an on pitch tribute.
The loss was also felt beyond Portugal’s camp. Scotland captain Andy Robertson, Jota’s teammate at Liverpool, said his first thoughts turned to his late friend when Scotland qualified for the finals in November. Cardoso later wrote to him:
“Thank you for turning the pain of loss into strength.”
Midfielder Vitinha said the timing of the fixture adds extra motivation for the squad.
“We have all the motivation, for our families, for Diogo Jota, for the whole country,” Vitinha said.
Jota scored 14 goals in 49 appearances for his country and would have been strongly expected to feature at this tournament had he lived.
Portugal have laboured in North America, winning just one of their three group matches, but victory over Croatia would set up a last 16 meeting with Spain or Austria. Martinez closed with a simple promise:
“Diogo will always be with us.”
