Portugal national team led by Al Nassr super star, Cristiano Ronaldo paid tribute to Diogo Jota before the World Cup qualifiers against Armenia and Hungary, Softfootball reports.
Jota and brother Andre were involved in a fatal accident that claimed their lives in July, 2025 and threw the football world into mourning. It was shocking and a rare occurrence for an active Premier League football to be gone at such a young age 28.
Portugal had all its team members in attendance including the federation president Pedro Proença and some family members. It was a solemn occasion as a silver statue was unveiled as tribute for the player who wore the number 21 for the country. It was a similar gesture like when Wolves inducted him into their Hall of Fame.
On Portugal’s official X handle, it wrote:
𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗢𝗦 na homenagem a Diogo Jota e Jorge Costa.
The translation of the above means:
Juntos in tribute to Diogo Jota and Jorge Costa.
Costa was a legend of Portuguese football that died in August, 2025 aged 53-year-old. He helped Portugal win the U-20 World Cup by beating Brazil in the 1991 final. He was part of the Portugal squad that got to the UEFA Euros semifinal hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. He also played at the Korea/Japan World Cup in 2002.
Meanwhile, in training yesterday, Ruben Neves showed off his new tattoo on his leg. It was a drawing of him and Jota embracing each other. An emotional sight.
Already, Portugal Manager Roberto Martinez confirmed that Jota’s No. 21 shirt has been passed onto his close friend Neves. The former Wolves captain is a very close pal to Jota and promises to continue to honour his legacy for the rest of his career.
Portugal will kick-off their World Cup Qualifiers against Armenia at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium before travelling to the Pukas Arena to face Hungary in the second match of Group F.
