A ' heated debate ' broke out after Cristiano Ronaldo (40, Al Nassr) did not attend the funeral of Liverpool's Diogo Jota (28), who suddenly passed away due to a tragic traffic accident. Ronaldo's sister criticized those who blamed him, also explaining the reason for his absence.
Jota's funeral was held on the 5th at 10 a.m. local time at the Igreja Matriz church located in Gondomar, northern Portugal.
Jota died in a traffic accident on the A-52 highway near Zamora, Spain, on the 3rd. After a tire burst, his vehicle left the road and caught fire, resulting in the total loss of the vehicle. His brother, André Silva, who was also in the car, lost his life as well.
Recently having undergone lung surgery, Jota chose to travel by car instead of flying to the UK, but he could not escape the tragedy.
Jota, a forward for the Portugal national team, played for Fasoo, Atlético Madrid, Porto, and Wolverhampton before joining Liverpool in 2020. He scored 65 goals in 182 matches, contributing to victories in the Premier League, League Cup, and FA Cup. Last season, he helped secure Liverpool's 20th Premier League title. Just a month ago, he also experienced victory in the UEFA Nations League with the Portugal national team.
Upon hearing the news, Liverpool expressed their profound sadness, stating, "We were shocked by Jota's tragic death." The Portugal national team also noted, "The entire country is in complete shock."
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said, "I don't know what to say. But I will never forget him." Former manager Jürgen Klopp also said, "My heart is broken."
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk referred to Jota as "an eternal champion" and promised to "always be there for his family."
Ronaldo also expressed disbelief on his social media account, saying, "This doesn’t make sense. Just a moment ago, we were together on the national team, and you just got married."
Attendees at his funeral included Liverpool players Van Dijk, Robertson, McAllister, Darwin Núñez, Curtis Jones, Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, Wataru Endo, and others. Manager Slot was also present. Former Liverpool player Jordan Henderson also attended.
According to BBC, "The Liverpool squad gathered to pay their last respects to a teammate with whom they celebrated the Premier League victory three months ago. The image of players entering the church in a row, just as they would onto the field, moved many hearts. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of community and deep sorrow. Some fans wept, while others welcomed the players with applause from beyond barriers. One woman even shouted, 'Força' (Hang in there)."
It was added that "Grieving family and close friends entered the church silently with their heads down. One person in the procession held a sign with Silva's photo, on which was written, 'We are forever one.' Many fans, observing the funeral that lasted about an hour in a quiet atmosphere, wore jerseys or merchandise from the several teams Jota and Silva played for."
Roberto Martínez, Portugal's manager, also attended the funeral. Portuguese teammates Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and João Félix were present as well. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro of Portugal also attended the ceremony.
Ronaldo did not attend.
The fact that he was absent from the funeral became a major topic of discussion in Portugal. Many expected that the national team captain would attend the vigil and funeral mass held in Gondomar, close to Porto. However, Ronaldo did not appear at either event.
A Mallorca regional newspaper reported that Ronaldo is enjoying a vacation on Mallorca Island. He was spotted at two luxury resorts aboard a 88-foot (about 27-meter) long, $5.5 million yacht called the 'Azimut Grande.'
Portugal journalist António Ribeiro Cristóvão noted in an interview just before the funeral mass, "Ronaldo is the national team captain. Many expected his attendance. Jota was part of the Portugal national team. Ronaldo owes an explanation for his absence. He has a responsibility to do so."
Another sports journalist, Luís Cristóvão, criticized, "His absence is inexcusable. No explanation can fill this void."
A soccer fan criticized on their social media account, "It is unacceptable that Ronaldo didn't pause his vacation to attend Jota's funeral as the captain of Portugal. Simply posting an emotional message on social media is not enough."
According to Portuguese media 'Record,' Ronaldo directly contacted Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso, and his parents to express his condolences. He also promised support.
He explained his reason for not attending the joint funeral of Jota and his brother Silva, saying, "By attending, I might draw media attention and ruin the atmosphere of the funeral."
Ronaldo's sister, Kátia Aveiro, stated that Ronaldo's actions should not be criticized.
She said, "The desire to do something can draw media attention. In the end, it prevents focus on what truly matters. Silence is also a form of empathy. Perhaps we should learn from this. Not everything is as it appears. Not every absence is rude, nor is every presence supportive."
Kátia Aveiro recalled her father's funeral 20 years ago, recalling the pain of that time as well. She said, "When my father passed away, we had to face the cameras and onlookers pouring in from the grave rather than being engulfed in sadness. The grave was completely destroyed due to people climbing over it, and there was no respect to be found."
She also added, "We couldn’t even step outside the chapel. The chaos reached its peak as the funeral began. Although the President of Portugal and manager Luís Scolari attended then, I cannot even remember if they greeted us. I was in tears and couldn’t see anything."
Finally, Kátia Aveiro stated, "I will ignore and block those who send messages criticizing Ronaldo. I am tired of endless criticism. It feels like society is sick. The attitude of television broadcasts, commentators, and social media discussing 'absence' instead of honoring a family who lost two brothers is shameful and sad."
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