World Cup 2026: Portugal wants to celebrate Diogo Jota by winning the World Cup.

“I still talk to him,” Ruben Neves said of Diogo Jota, his best friend and former Porto, Wolves and Portugal team-mate.

Jota has been a Liverpool player for a year. He died in a car accident In Spain, 11 days after marrying his long-term partner Rute Cardoso.

On 3 July 2025, his brother Andre Silva was killed in the accident.

“Few people know that,” said Neves, who wore Jota’s No. 21 national jersey at the World Cup. Portuguese TV show, External High quality.

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

“Whenever something special happens, I save the conversations on WhatsApp so I can keep messaging him.”

Jota, 28, was on his way back to Liverpool for pre-season when his Lamborghini veered off the road and was overtaken by another vehicle due to a flat tire.

He was making his journey to England by car and boat, as the doctors had recommended to his dear friend. He won the Premier League He had a minor surgery two months ago and was against flying.

A year on, Portugal will play Croatia in Toronto on Thursday evening (Friday 00:00 BST) for a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

It promises to be an emotional experience for head coach Roberto Martinez, his players and staff, as well as the thousands of Portugal fans who will flood the Canadian city for the game.

“Diogo is our sun and our light,” said Martinez Jota An honorary ‘plus-one’ player When he announced his team in May.

We want to win the World Cup for him.