Diogo Jota’s Portugal teammate and captain, Cristiano Ronaldo has said he didn’t attend the late Liverpool forward’s funeral because he didn’t want to cause any distraction from the event.
The tragic passing of Jota and his brother André Silva in a car accident on July 3 deeply shook the football world.
As tributes poured in from around the globe, one notable absence during the funeral on July 5 in Gondomar, Portugal drew attention: Ronaldo , captain of the Portuguese national team , did not attend the ceremony.
According to Portuguese media, Ronaldo made a conscious decision not to attend in order to avoid media attention that could distract from the intimate and respectful nature of the ceremony.
The Al-Nassr striker reportedly communicated directly with Jota’s wife, Rute , and his parents to explain his absence and offer his condolences.
Both parties agreed that his public presence could turn a moment of mourning into a spectacle, and therefore decided it was best for him to stay away.
