Ronaldo scores first World Cup knockout goal, dedicates to Jota

TORONTO: Cristiano Ronaldo marked a historic milestone by scoring the first FIFA World Cup knockout goal of his career as Portugal secured a 2–1 victory over Croatia. However, the night was defined by an emotional tribute to his late teammate, Diogo Jota.

Following the final whistle, Ronaldo draped Jota’s No. 21 Portugal jersey over his shoulders and, with tears in his eyes, pointed toward the sky while celebrating alongside his teammates. The tribute came on the first anniversary of Jota’s tragic death, after he and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car accident in western Spain.

Reflecting on the emotional occasion, Ronaldo said, “We knew it before the game—it was a special moment. We spoke as a group today about the coincidence of life. It’s unbelievable.”

He added, “I was amazed because what happened today means a lot to us—not only because we won the game, but also because of the way it happened.”