Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal national football team paid a heartfelt tribute to former teammate Diogo Jota following their dramatic 2-1 victory over the Croatia national football team in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 in Toronto.

The emotional scenes unfolded after the final whistle, with Ronaldo donning Jota’s iconic Portugal No. 21 shirt before pointing towards the sky as he stood alongside his teammates in a moving moment of remembrance.

The tribute carried added significance as Friday marks exactly one year since Jota and his brother, André Silva, tragically lost their lives in a car accident in western Spain.

Jota represented Portugal 49 times during his international career, scoring 14 goals and becoming an integral member of the national team.

Ronaldo, who had earlier given Portugal the lead by converting a first-half penalty, admitted the occasion had weighed heavily on the squad before kickoff.

“We knew it before the game, it was a special moment,” Ronaldo said after the match.

The Portugal captain revealed that the players had reflected on the significance of the anniversary before taking to the pitch.

“We spoke today, our group, about the coincidence of life; it’s unbelievable.

“I was amazed because the situation today means a lot to us, not only because we won the game but also the way.”

Portugal’s victory ensured their place in the Round of 16. Still, the result was overshadowed by the emotional tribute to one of the nation’s most cherished footballers, with Ronaldo and his teammates dedicating the memorable night to Jota’s memory.