Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal pledge to honor Diogo Jota on first death anniversary ahead of Croatia’s World Cup match

Portugal wants to honor Diogo Jota one year after World Cup tragedy in Croatia (Agency Image) Portugal’s World Cup campaign enters the knockout stage with emotions running high as Roberto Martinez’s side prepare to face Croatia in the round of 32 in Toronto on Thursday.As well as chasing a place in the last 16, Portugal will carry an additional sense of purpose. By the time he arrives in Canada, he will already be in Portugal on July 3rd, the year since Diogo Jota and his younger brother André Silva tragically lost their lives in a car accident in western Spain.The anniversary brought back memories of a loss that stunned the football world. Jota was 28 when he died, while Silva was 25. Although both were recognized for their football careers, those closest to them often spoke of the impact they had outside the game.Silva played as an attacking midfielder for Portuguese second division club Penafiel and graduated in 2025 with a degree in business management. Meanwhile, Jota established himself as one of Portugal’s key strikers and celebrated winning the Premier League with Liverpool. He married his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso just 11 days before the accident. He also left behind three children.Jota was part of the Portugal squad that lifted the UEFA Nations League title in June 2025 and his next ambition was to help the national team challenge for the World Cup. Although he never got the chance to fulfill that dream, Martinez says his memory continues to inspire the entire team.“I think we have to honor Diogo Jota,” Martinez said after Portugal’s goalless draw against Colombia on Saturday.“I think it’s a moment when we can appreciate that everything we started in this team started with him. We won the Nations League with him. He’s probably the sign and light of the biggest stimulation we have. We want to win the World Cup for him.”Portugal’s path to the knockout stage was not straightforward. After opening their campaign with victory over Uzbekistan, Roberto Martinez’s side were held to a goalless draw by DR Congo before another 0-0 draw against Colombia. Those results were enough to send Cristiano Ronaldo’s side into the round of 16, where they will now face Luka Modric’s Croatia at the Toronto Stadium.A win would keep Portugal’s World Cup hopes alive, but it would also have a deeper meaning. On the first anniversary of Jota’s death, progressing in the tournament would be another step towards fulfilling a dream the former Liverpool striker never had the chance to realize, with the team determined to honor his memory on football’s biggest stage.