After an emotional — and controversial — win Thursday in the World Cup, Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo donned late ex-teammate Diogo Jota’s No. 21 jersey and pointed to the sky.
Their 2-1 win over Croatia in the first round came on the eve of Jota’s death in a car crash last year, and the team honored him after the thrilling victory.
“We knew it before the game, it was a so special moment,” Ronaldo told Fox, as transcribed by ESPN. “We speak today, our group, about the coincidence of life, it’s unbelievable.
“I was amazed because the situation of today it means a lot to us, not only because we won the game but also the way.”
Jota died at the age of 28 last July 3 in a car crash in Spain that also claimed the life of his 26-year-old brother Andre.
His death came just 11 days after he married his wife, with whom he shared three children.
Jota played for the Portuguese National Team and also for Liverpool in the English Premier League, although he did not appear in the 2022 World Cup due to an injury.
He competed in 49 games for the National Team and scored 14 goals.
“Every day it’s special because we talk about (Jota) every day,” Portugal’s Goncalo Ramos told reporters, per ESPN. “He gives us strength and it’s very special to have won today and to have reached one the most important phases of this competition.”
Portugal avoided an early elimination Thursday by rallying to beat Croatia, with Ronaldo tying the game in the 68th minute before Ramos’ goal four minutes into stoppage time gave them a 2-1 lead.
Croatia thought it tied the game in extra time but VAR waved off the game-tying score, and Portugal now will face Spain in the Round of 16.
“Regarding the emotions, we always believed, we believed from the very beginning,” Portugal’s Rafael Leao said, according to ESPN.
“And there was an additional, crucial factor: Diogo Jota, who is always with us and helped us as well.”
