The Reason Cristiano Ronaldo Was Absent from Diogo Jota’s Funeral
Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, were laid to rest on Saturday morning at a church in Gondomar, near Porto, following their tragic deaths earlier in the week. The two brothers lost their lives in a fatal car accident on Thursday morning, prompting an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the footballing world.
The funeral was attended by players from both Liverpool and the Portugal national team, along with several of Jota’s former teammates from Wolves. However, some individuals were unable to be present due to various circumstances — most notably Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite his absence, Ronaldo expressed deep sorrow in a heartfelt message shared on X (formerly Twitter). The 40-year-old, who had played 32 matches alongside Jota for Portugal, wrote:
“This doesn’t make sense. We were just together with the national team, and you had just married.
To your wife, children, and entire family, I send my deepest condolences and wish them immense strength. I know you’ll always be with them.
Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. You will be dearly missed.”
Why Ronaldo Missed the Funeral
According to The Mirror, Ronaldo last saw Jota on June 8, when the two helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League final against Spain — tragically, their final moment together.
The report explains that Ronaldo chose not to attend the funeral in Gondomar out of respect, fearing his high-profile presence might detract from the somber occasion. Given the small size of the town and the emotional weight of the event, Ronaldo opted to grieve privately with his family.
Jota’s funeral drew significant public attention online, but the Portugal captain reportedly didn’t want to become a distraction. Other prominent players, including Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Bruno Fernandes, and Ruben Neves, were among those who came to pay their respects. Many of them had also attended Jota’s wedding to his wife, Rute Cardoso, just two weeks earlier.
Liverpool have confirmed that they will honor the remainder of Jota’s contract, ensuring his family is supported. The forward had two years left on his deal with the club.
