Portugal honour late Diogo Jota in World Cup tie against Croatia
Portugal will honour the late Diogo Jota when they face Croatia in the World Cup round of 32 on Thursday, exactly one year after the forward died in a car crash.
The match in Toronto coincides with the tragic anniversary of the collision in Spain that claimed the lives of the 28-year-old and his brother, Andre Silva.
Head coach Roberto Martinez says his squad are determined to win the tournament in memory of the former Liverpool star.
A poignant anniversary in Canada
The tragedy occurred just 11 days after the Premier League champion married his childhood sweetheart.
His 25-year-old brother, who also died in the crash, was an attacking midfielder for Portuguese second-tier side Penafiel.
The profound scale of the loss continues to resonate deeply within the national team setup.
Chasing World Cup glory
The Portuguese camp remains heavily motivated by the memory of a player who helped them secure the Uefa Nations League title.
Before his passing, the prolific goalscorer had expressed a strong desire to compete at football’s showpiece event for the first time.
“I think we need to honour Diogo Jota,” Martinez said following a goalless draw with Colombia.
“I think it’s a moment to cherish that everything we started in this team started with him. We want to win the World Cup for him.”
Remembering a champion
Several members of the squad have been wearing wristbands bearing their former team-mate’s name throughout the tournament.
The brothers’ parents recently attended an emotional tribute ceremony ahead of the opening group match against DR Congo.
His former club manager, Arne Slot, previously described the attacker as a “champion in everything”.
To ensure his legacy endures, the Portuguese Football Federation has commissioned an official biography authored by journalist Jose Manuel Delgado.