Cristiano Ronaldo did not attend the funeral of Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva on Saturday, and now the reason behind his absence has been revealed.
Jota and Andre were laid to rest in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, just days after the tragic car crash that took both of their lives. The service, held at a local church, was attended by hundreds of mourners, including Liverpool teammates, Portugal players, and some of Jota’s former Wolves colleagues.
Among those present were Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Ruben Neves, João Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes, and several other Premier League players, including Bernardo Silva and Diogo Dalot. Former Reds Thiago Alcântara and Fabinho were also there, while Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and FSG’s Michael Edwards led the club’s official delegation.
But one notable name missing was Ronaldo, captain of the national team and a man who had shared 32 appearances with Jota for Portugal.
Ronaldo had paid tribute earlier in the week with a powerful message posted on social media. He wrote:
“It doesn’t make sense. We were just together in the national team, and you had just gotten married.
To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them.
Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”Advertisement
The two had last played together on June 8 in Portugal’s Nations League win over Spain — just weeks before Jota’s passing.
So why wasn’t Ronaldo at the funeral?
According to reports from The Mirror, the Al-Nassr forward made a conscious decision not to attend out of deep respect for the family and the town. It’s understood that Ronaldo was concerned his presence could overshadow the private farewell, especially in such a small and close-knit community like Gondomar.
The report claims he chose to stay away so the focus would remain entirely on Jota, Andre, and the grieving loved ones. Ronaldo has been keeping a low profile in recent days, surrounded by his family and staying silent apart from his early tribute.
The family had asked for privacy during Saturday’s funeral ceremony, following what they described as an “intense” outpouring of public grief at the wake the day before. Supporters were allowed to gather outside the church in Gondomar, but the service itself was closed to the media and the general public. With this in mind, some viewed Ronaldo’s decision to stay away as a quiet gesture honouring the family’s wishes without drawing added attention.
His choice has been widely praised as a thoughtful act by the Portugal captain, who didn’t want the occasion to become about his presence rather than the memory of Diogo and Andre.
Jota had just gotten married two weeks ago in Porto and was preparing for pre-season at Liverpool. The club has already confirmed it will honour the remainder of his contract, helping to provide financial support for his wife, Rute Cardoso, and their three children.
Though Ronaldo wasn’t physically at the service, his message and gesture showed the bond between them — and his deep respect for a fallen teammate and friend.
