World Cup 2026: Portugal pay tribute to Diogo Jota after win over Croatia, nearly 1 year after his death

When Portugal stepped on to the pitch at Toronto's BMO Field Thursday night for their World Cup Round of 32 matchup against Croatia, they did so with an extra man in their presence.

At the time of kick off, the date was July 3 in Portugal, which marked one year since the tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva. The pair were killed in a car crash when their Lamborghini went off the road in northern Spain. Jota was 28 years old.

Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 in one of the wildest games of the World Cup, then took a team photo with Jota's No. 21 jersey.

Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo also donned the jersey in the aftermath of the game.

"So many [motivations to win the match], and there's yet this additional factor, this special day, we have all the motivation, for ​our families, for Diogo Jota, for the whole country, for the whole of Portugal," said defender Vitinha before the game via Reuters.

Jota made 49 appearances for Portugal and scored 14 goals. He was a valued member of the squad, helping his country to UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025 — the last coming weeks before his death. He only missed out on the 2022 World Cup due to an injury.

There have been tributes at Liverpool, Jota's club team, and across the soccer world over the past year. Luís Montenegro, Portugal's Prime Minister, gifted the players wristbands that feature Jota's name. Manager Roberto Martínez named him as an honorary member of the World Cup squad.

Before their opening match in Houston against DR Congo, a tribute took place with Jota and Silva's parents, Isabel and Joaquim Silva, in attendance.

Midfielder Rúben Neves told Portuguese TV show, external Alta Definicao that the squad's WhatsApp group still contains Jota and his wife, Rute Cardoso. It's a way for Neves and his teammates to continue speaking to their fallen teammate.

"I still talk to him," Neves said. "Whenever something special happens, I have the conversations archived on my WhatsApp so I can continue to send him messages."

As Portugal begins knockout round play, Jota will have his memory carried by his teammates.

"I think we need to honor Diogo Jota," Martinez said on Saturday. "I think it's a moment to cherish that everything we started in this team started with him. We won the Nations League with him. He's probably the sign and the light of the biggest stimulation that we have. We want to win the World Cup for him."