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Jota remembered in Portugal run
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said, ahead of the World Cup Round of 16, "We want to win the World Cup for Diogo Jota" as the team prepares to face Croatia after a 0-0 draw with Colombia.
“"Nous voulons remporter la Coupe du monde pour Diogo Jota"”
The Sports outlet says Portugal qualified for the seizièmes de finale after its draw against the Colombie (0-0) and that Martinez wants the squad to render homage to Diogo Jota, who died on 3 juillet 2025.
ESPN frames the timing as Portugal turning to July 3 at kickoff in Toronto, marking exactly one year since Jota and his brother André Silva died in a car accident in western Spain.
ESPN also notes that Martinez told reporters after Portugal’s 0-0 draw with Colombia, "I think we need to honor Diogo Jota," and connected that to winning the UEFA Nations League with him.
Martinez, Ronaldo and the message
On the eve of the Croatia match, Martinez told reporters that "Tomorrow we will begin the second World Cup" and described the three group games as "difficult."
Martinez also said Croatia is a team Portugal "know very well" and that "It will be a competitive match," while he brushed off Portuguese media concerns about Goncalo Ramos’s game time after Cristiano Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes against Colombia.
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The Mirror reports that Cristiano Ronaldo did not attend Diogo Jota’s funeral and quoted him saying, "After my father died, I have never been to a cemetery again."
The Mirror adds that Ronaldo explained his decision in terms of attention, saying, "I don't want this sort of attention," and linked it to not wanting to take the spotlight away from the disaster.
Bracelets, motivation and stakes
Portugal’s tribute during the tournament includes personalized bracelets, and Foot Mercato says the initiative came after a meeting with the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, who proposed the armband and ensured it could be worn on the field.
“"The story of the armband began when we met the Prime Minister"”
Vitinha told reporters, "The names of all the players, as well as that of Diogo Jota, will be displayed," and he said Montenegro left it to the team to decide whether to wear it and when.
Starsporttv quotes Vitinha saying, "We have all the motivation to win tomorrow ... for our families, for Diogo Jota, for the whole country, for the whole of Portugal," as Portugal plays Croatia in the World Cup Round of 16 on Thursday, July 2 in Toronto.
The stakes are immediate in ESPN’s framing of the round-of-32 tie as both a step toward Portugal’s World Cup dream and an opportunity to honor Jota on the eve of the July 3 anniversary.
