Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and teammates pose with a shirt in reminiscence of former participant Diogo Jota forward of the one 12 months anniversary of his demise, as Portugal qualify for the Spherical of 16 stage of the World Cup, Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada, July 2, 2026. — Reuters
TORONTO: Cristiano Ronaldo mentioned it was a “coincidence of life” that Portgual’s World Cup last-16 win in opposition to Croatia on Thursday got here nearly a 12 months for the reason that demise of his late teammate Diogo Jota.
Ronaldo and his teammates posed with Jota’s quantity 21 jersey after their gripping 2-1 win in opposition to Croatia despatched Portugal into the final 16.
“The coincidence of life, it’s unbelievable,” Ronaldo mentioned. “We knew it before the game. It was a so special moment. We speak today, our group, about that, the coincidence of life. It’s unbelievable.”
Ronaldo additionally pulled on a quantity 21 jersey on the finish of the sport to conduct interviews.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez mentioned the victory had particular which means.
“For Portuguese fans this is a very happy day and also because of the meaning of the game, we’ve moved to the next phase, to the round of 16. In a year where we honoured Diogo Jota.”
Jota and his brother Andre Silva have been killed when their automotive crashed because the Liverpool participant drove via Spain on July 3 final 12 months on his method again to report for pre-season coaching in England.
Earlier within the match, a black and white image of Jota was proven on the enormous display screen on the stadium in Houston earlier than Portugal’s first recreation in opposition to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
