Portugal Want To Win 2026 FIFA World Cup For Late Diogo Jota

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez says his side are determined to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup in honour of the late Diogo Jota as the first anniversary of the forward’s death approaches.

Naija News reports that Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, were killed in a car crash in Spain on 3 July 2025, just 11 days after the Liverpool striker married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso.

As Portugal prepare to face Croatia in the World Cup knockout stage at midnight on Friday, July 3, Martinez said the squad remain driven by Jota’s memory.

“Diogo is our sun and our light,” Martinez said.

“We want to win the World Cup for him.”

The emotional tribute comes as Portugal continues a campaign in which Jota’s presence has been felt throughout. The late forward was named an honorary ‘plus-one’ player when Martinez announced his World Cup squad, while midfielder Ruben Neves has been wearing Jota’s No. 21 shirt during the tournament.

Neves also revealed he still sends messages to his close friend through a WhatsApp group that includes Jota’s wife.

“I still talk to him,” Neves said. “Few people know this.

“We have a WhatsApp group with Rute and Diogo, and it’s still there, and we continue to talk there.

“Whenever something special happens, I have the conversations archived on my WhatsApp so I can continue to send him messages.”

Jota was travelling back to Liverpool for pre-season when the Lamborghini he was travelling in suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle. Doctors had advised him against flying after minor surgery, prompting him to travel by road and ferry.

The 28-year-old scored 14 goals in 49 appearances for Portugal and had fulfilled a lifelong ambition by helping his country win the UEFA Nations League just weeks before his death.

Throughout the World Cup, Portugal’s players have honoured his memory. Fans have filled the stands wearing shirts bearing Jota’s name, while captain Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates have worn special wristbands carrying the names of every squad member alongside Jota’s.

Midfielder Vitinha explained the significance of the wristbands.

“The story of the wristband ⁠is that when we went to meet with the prime minister, he offered us this wristband,” he said.

“They made ​sure that it was a wristband that we could wear on the pitch. It has all the specifics for us ​to be able to enter the pitch with it, with the name of all the players plus the special name of Diogo Jota.”

Neves, who helped carry Jota’s coffin at his funeral in Gondomar, admitted the loss of his friend remains difficult to accept.

“The entire national team and I will do everything we can to keep Diogo here with us, on our team,” he added.

“The day after the news, for me, is the most difficult day of my life. The most important aspect for me to be able to play was wanting to play for Diogo first.”