Tears of glory for Jota.. Cristiano celebrates late shirt after defeat by Croatia

Dedicating the passage to the soul of the deceased

In a human shot that captured hearts in front of the lens, captain Cristiano Ronaldo chose to mark his passage to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup in a different way when he ditched his regular shirt and donned the number 21 of the late Diogo Jota in a dramatic 2-21 win over Croatia.

After the final whistle that signaled Portugal’s move to BMO Field, Ronaldo headed straight for the Portugal stand wearing his late team-mate’s shirt in a display of loyalty that touched the hearts of fans who chanted his name and Jota’s in a moment of jubilation mixed with sadness.

Ronaldo played a key role in qualification when he equalized for Portugal from the penalty spot in the 68th minute, refusing to give up after his previous goal was disallowed for offside until Goncalo Ramos settled the tie with a decisive goal in the 90+4th minute.

Ronaldo’s strike in Jota’s shirt was not just a passing celebration, but rather a strong message that football is better than the result and that legends do not forget those who have died. On a night when “The Don” was the main reason Portugal survived the World Cup, he insisted that Jota be present in the picture to immortalize his memory on an unforgettable World Cup night.

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