Cristiano Ronaldo delivered an emotional tribute to the late Diogo Jota after Portugal secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Croatia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 on July 3.

Portugal booked their place in the Round of 16 following an intense match that lasted through 90 minutes plus 19 minutes of stoppage time. Three Croatia goals were ruled out by VAR, allowing Portugal to complete a thrilling comeback and advance to the next round.

Ronaldo played a key role in the victory by converting a penalty, but it was his heartfelt gesture after the final whistle that touched football fans around the world.

Instead of celebrating in the usual fashion, the 41-year-old captain walked to the technical area and picked up Diogo Jota’s No. 21 Portugal jersey. Ronaldo draped the shirt over his shoulders before raising his hand toward the sky in a silent tribute to his late teammate.

The emotional moment carried even deeper meaning. Jota’s first and final international goals before his tragic passing both came against Croatia, making Ronaldo’s gesture even more symbolic.

Exactly one year has passed since the football world was left in shock by Jota’s tragic death. His memory has remained close to the Portugal squad throughout the tournament.

During their World Cup campaign, Portugal’s players have also been wearing commemorative wristbands bearing Jota’s name as a way to honor his legacy and remember his contributions to Portuguese football.

On the other side, Croatia’s World Cup journey came to an end in the Round of 32. For many fans, the match may have marked Luka Modrić’s final appearance on football’s biggest stage.

After the final whistle, Ronaldo and Modrić embraced warmly, sharing a heartfelt moment of mutual respect that reflected their long-standing friendship and remarkable careers.

The match itself was filled with drama until the very end. Croatia believed they had scored an equalizer deep into stoppage time that would have forced extra time, but VAR ruled the goal offside, crushing their hopes of extending the contest.

Croatia’s players collapsed to the ground in disappointment as the final whistle confirmed their elimination.

Despite the heartbreaking result, Croatia earned widespread praise for their determined and resilient performance against one of the tournament favorites.

Sources: kenh14