The Portugal national team began its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against the Democratic Republic of Congo on June 17 with a special tribute to former teammate Diego Jota.
Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest of the squad took the field wearing green and red wristbands in memory of the former Liverpool player.
Jota, who scored 14 goals in 49 appearances for Portugal, died last year alongside his brother in a car accident in northwestern Spain. His passing had a profound impact on the team, and the players wanted to keep his memory close as they started their World Cup journey in North America.
Portugal Pay Tribute to Diego Jota
The wristbands were presented to the squad by Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro before the team departed for the United States. Each band features the names of every player in Portugal's World Cup squad, with Jota's name included among them.
Since FIFA has strict rules on player equipment, the wristbands were specially designed to comply with all regulations. This allowed the players to wear them during matches rather than only before games or in training.
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Midfielder Vitinha later revealed that the decision to wear the wristbands during Portugal's opening match was made by the players themselves. The Prime Minister left it up to the squad to decide how they wanted to use them, and they chose to carry Jota's memory onto the field.
Head coach Roberto Martínez also spoke about Jota's lasting influence on the team, saying he remains a source of inspiration as Portugal pursue success at the World Cup while honoring his memory.
“Losing Diogo and his brother, André Silva, has been painful for all of us and a harsh life lesson. What matters now is that we get to fight for one of his dreams, which is winning the World Cup. There’s no greater motivation than keeping his spirit alive in the national team,” he said earlier.
