Ronaldo’s Absence at Diogo Jota’s Funeral: Here’s Why He Didn’t Attend
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The sudden loss of Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a tragic car crash in Spain has left the football world in mourning. Just two weeks after Jota’s wedding, the news stunned fans and teammates alike. While the funeral in Gondomar saw the presence of Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso and their children, one absence sparked a wave of speculation-Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese superstar’s decision not to attend the service raised eyebrows online, with many questioning why Jota’s national team teammate wasn’t there to pay his respects in person.
Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, stepped in to clarify. In an emotional message, she explained that “It is absurdly shameful to focus on who didn’t attend instead of honouring the pain of a family broken by loss,”
A painful memory influenced Ronaldo’s decision. Katia recalled the chaos when their father passed away in 2005—the media hounded them relentlessly, and even the children couldn’t leave the chapel in peace. That moment left a lasting mark, making Ronaldo fear a repeat of that scene at Jota’s funeral.
She explained that the real concern was triggering a media frenzy, “It’s the fear of creating a media circus. Silence is also empathy." That’s why Ronaldo chose to grieve in private. “We were just together in the national team. You had just gotten married. It doesn’t make sense,” Ronaldo wrote on social media.
While he stayed away from the public farewell, Ronaldo’s tribute was heartfelt and personal. “I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre.” he wrote in a moving social media post.
Just weeks before, Ronaldo and Jota had shared the pitch in Portugal’s Nations League win over Spain. The joy of that victory now feels distant, eclipsed by the crushing loss of a teammate and friend.
Jota married his high school sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, on 22 June 2025-just eleven days before his untimely passing. Together, they had three children.
About Diogo Jota
Diogo José Teixeira da Silva (4 December 1996 – 3 July 2025), widely known as Diogo Jota, was a Portuguese professional footballer who played as a forward or winger. Renowned for his finishing, speed, dribbling, and relentless work ethic, Jota made a significant impact in both domestic and international football.
He began his senior career at Paços de Ferreira before signing with Atlético Madrid in 2016. That same year, he was loaned to FC Porto, followed by a loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017. After helping Wolves secure promotion to the Premier League, he signed with them permanently in 2018 for €14 million. Over two seasons, he scored 44 goals in 131 appearances.
In 2020, Jota joined Liverpool for a reported £41 million. During his five seasons at Anfield, he scored 65 goals in 182 appearances and played a key role in their successes—including the 2024–25 Premier League title, an FA Cup, and two EFL Cups.
Tragically, on 3 July 2025, Jota and his younger brother, André, died in a car crash in Zamora, Spain. They were en route to Santander to catch a ferry back to England after Jota, following minor lung surgery and advised not to fly, had recently married in Portugal. According to the Spanish Civil Guard, their Lamborghini Huracán suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla. The car veered off the road, caught fire, and both men died at the scene. Jota was 28; André was 25.
A wake for Diogo Jota and his brother André was held on 4 July 2025 in their hometown of Gondomar, Portugal. Hundreds gathered to mourn-family, friends, and public figures alike-including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who came to pay their respects.
The funeral was held the next morning at the nearby Igreja Paroquial de Gondomar, with Bishop Manuel Linda of Porto presiding over the mass. Liverpool teammates Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson carried floral tributes for Jota and André, while Portugal teammate Rúben Neves served as a pallbearer for Jota’s casket.
The brothers were laid to rest side by side in the cemetery next to the church, as the nation bid farewell to two lives gone too soon.
The Portuguese superstar’s decision not to attend the service raised eyebrows online, with many questioning why Jota’s national team teammate wasn’t there to pay his respects in person.
Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, stepped in to clarify. In an emotional message, she explained that “It is absurdly shameful to focus on who didn’t attend instead of honouring the pain of a family broken by loss,”
A painful memory influenced Ronaldo’s decision. Katia recalled the chaos when their father passed away in 2005—the media hounded them relentlessly, and even the children couldn’t leave the chapel in peace. That moment left a lasting mark, making Ronaldo fear a repeat of that scene at Jota’s funeral.
She explained that the real concern was triggering a media frenzy, “It’s the fear of creating a media circus. Silence is also empathy." That’s why Ronaldo chose to grieve in private. “We were just together in the national team. You had just gotten married. It doesn’t make sense,” Ronaldo wrote on social media.
While he stayed away from the public farewell, Ronaldo’s tribute was heartfelt and personal. “I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre.” he wrote in a moving social media post.
Just weeks before, Ronaldo and Jota had shared the pitch in Portugal’s Nations League win over Spain. The joy of that victory now feels distant, eclipsed by the crushing loss of a teammate and friend.
Jota married his high school sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, on 22 June 2025-just eleven days before his untimely passing. Together, they had three children.
About Diogo Jota
Diogo José Teixeira da Silva (4 December 1996 – 3 July 2025), widely known as Diogo Jota, was a Portuguese professional footballer who played as a forward or winger. Renowned for his finishing, speed, dribbling, and relentless work ethic, Jota made a significant impact in both domestic and international football.
He began his senior career at Paços de Ferreira before signing with Atlético Madrid in 2016. That same year, he was loaned to FC Porto, followed by a loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017. After helping Wolves secure promotion to the Premier League, he signed with them permanently in 2018 for €14 million. Over two seasons, he scored 44 goals in 131 appearances.
In 2020, Jota joined Liverpool for a reported £41 million. During his five seasons at Anfield, he scored 65 goals in 182 appearances and played a key role in their successes—including the 2024–25 Premier League title, an FA Cup, and two EFL Cups.
Tragically, on 3 July 2025, Jota and his younger brother, André, died in a car crash in Zamora, Spain. They were en route to Santander to catch a ferry back to England after Jota, following minor lung surgery and advised not to fly, had recently married in Portugal. According to the Spanish Civil Guard, their Lamborghini Huracán suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla. The car veered off the road, caught fire, and both men died at the scene. Jota was 28; André was 25.
A wake for Diogo Jota and his brother André was held on 4 July 2025 in their hometown of Gondomar, Portugal. Hundreds gathered to mourn-family, friends, and public figures alike-including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who came to pay their respects.
The funeral was held the next morning at the nearby Igreja Paroquial de Gondomar, with Bishop Manuel Linda of Porto presiding over the mass. Liverpool teammates Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson carried floral tributes for Jota and André, while Portugal teammate Rúben Neves served as a pallbearer for Jota’s casket.
The brothers were laid to rest side by side in the cemetery next to the church, as the nation bid farewell to two lives gone too soon.
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