The Portuguese football family came together this week in a moving ceremony to honour the late Diogo Jota, whose life was tragically cut short two months ago alongside his brother, André Silva.
For the first time since the heartbreaking loss, Portugal’s national team reunited ahead of their World Cup qualifiers, choosing to begin their campaign by paying tribute to their beloved No. 21.
At the City of Football complex in Lisbon, head coach Roberto Martínez and his squad gathered with Jota’s loved ones to remember the forward’s legacy. His wife, Rute, stood alongside his parents, Joaquim and Isabel, while Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, delivered a heartfelt speech.
“Diogo Jota and Jorge Costa will never be forgotten,” Proença declared, also honouring the late Porto captain Jorge Costa, who passed away in August. Both men were remembered not just with emotional words, but with enduring symbols: statues of their Portugal shirts now stand proudly as a reminder of their impact on the national game.
Their contribution to Portuguese football was further recognised at the highest levels of the nation. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro awarded Jota and Costa the Athlete of Merit Medal, while President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa posthumously appointed them Commanders of the Order of Merit—an honour reserved for those who have left an indelible mark on the country.
One of the most poignant moments of the tribute came from Al-Hilal midfielder Rúben Neves, Jota’s former Wolves teammate and close friend. Neves recently unveiled a tattoo in his friend’s memory, etched onto his calf: an image of the two embracing.
As he addressed the gathering, Neves’s voice carried both grief and determination.
“I and the entire national team will do everything we can to keep Diogo here with us, in our team,” he said. “Thank you, Jorge and Diogo. Forever in our hearts.”
For Martínez, the team is more than just a list of names. As he announced his squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Armenia and Hungary, he made sure to remind everyone that Portugal will not be playing with 23 men, but with “23+1”—a touching acknowledgement that Jota’s spirit will always remain part of the national side.
