Ronaldo dons Jota's jersey as Portugal survive Croatia scare in stoppage time

Cristiano Ronaldo pulled on Diogo Jota’s No. 21 Portugal jersey the moment the final whistle blew on Thursday, as Portugal edged Croatia 2-1 in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto — on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Jota’s death.

Jota was killed in a car crash in Spain on 3 July 2025 at the age of 28. He had scored 14 goals in 49 appearances for Portugal and was widely expected to feature at this tournament. When Portugal named their World Cup squad, coach Roberto Martínez included Jota as a symbolic “plus one forever” — the 27th name on a list he described as carrying a permanent extra member. Before kick-off, Jota’s image appeared on a screen at Toronto Stadium as the national anthem played.

Ronaldo equalised for Portugal to make it 1-1, cancelling out Croatia’s opener, before Gonçalo Ramos struck four minutes into stoppage time to send Portugal through. Ronaldo then immediately sought out Jota’s shirt and wore it alongside his teammates, later posting a photograph on Instagram with the message: “We won for us, Diogo and Portugal.”

“Unbelievable. We knew it before the game. It was a so special moment,” Ronaldo said after the match. “We speak today, our group, about that. The coincidence of life, it’s unbelievable. I was amazed because the situations of today, it means a lot to us. Not only because we won the game, but also the way.”

The victory was far from straightforward. Portugal dominated the first half but were rattled after Croatia scored, and Ronaldo admitted the team “got a little bit of panic” before regaining their composure. A disallowed Ronaldo goal appeared to galvanise both the players and the crowd, and a penalty award shifted momentum further Portugal’s way before Ramos delivered the decisive blow deep in added time.

“This is football,” Ronaldo reflected. “After my goal [was ruled] offside, people started to believe. I asked the fans to help us and after the penalty, I think it was a little bit better for us. We created a few chances and I think, at the end of the day, we deserved to win the match.”

Martínez had spoken in May about the weight the squad carries in Jota’s memory. “To lose Diogo Jota was an unforgettable moment and a very difficult moment,” the coach said. “But the next day it was a responsibility for all of us to fight for Diogo Jota’s dream and for the example that he was in our national team. The spirit, the strength, the example of Diogo Jota — the plus one. He will be the plus one forever.”