Search icon

Sport

03rd Jul 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo pays emotional tribute to Diogo Jota

Sammi Minion

They played together for the Portuguese national team

Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has made a heartbreaking tribute to his Portugal team-mate Diogo Jota after the 28-year-old tragically passed away last night. 

The 39-year-old posted a message to his 115 million Twitter/X followers. It reads: “It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married. 

“To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.” 

The message has been translated from Portuguese. 

Jota passed away in a car accident in Zamora, Spain on the A-52 road at 12.30pm last night while travelling with his brother Andre, 26, who also died in the accident. 

Ronaldo’s tribute follows those made by both his club Liverpool FC and the Portuguese national team. 

The awful news comes just a fortnight after Jota married his long-term girlfriend Rute Cardoso in Porto.

Jota also has three children.

Official tributes to Jota will begin tonight at the UEFA Women’s Championships.

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!