A year after the death of Diogo Jota, Portugal carry his memory into a pivotal World Cup clash against Croatia in Toronto on Thursday — a match that could secure their place in the last 16.

Jota, 28, died on 3 July 2025 in a car accident in Spain, just 11 days after marrying his partner Rute Cardoso. His brother Andre Silva was killed in the same crash. The Liverpool forward was travelling by car and ferry to England for pre-season, having been advised against flying after minor surgery. Their vehicle, a Lamborghini, left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking.

A grief that goes beyond football

Head coach Roberto Martinez named Jota as an honorary extra member of the squad when he announced his selection in May. "Diogo is our sun and our light," Martinez said. "We want to win the World Cup for him."

The anniversary of his death falls on the eve of the Croatia fixture, which Martinez described as "Diogo Jota's game." He added: "Every day is difficult. When we are training, there are always moments when Diogo comes back into our memory."

Before each match, a black-and-white image of Jota celebrating a Portugal goal has appeared on the big screens as the national anthem plays. Players including captain Cristiano Ronaldo wear green-and-red wristbands — a gift from Prime Minister Luis Montenegro — bearing the names of all squad members alongside that of Jota.

Neves carries the number 21

Midfielder Ruben Neves, one of Jota's closest friends and a former team-mate at Porto, Wolverhampton, and Portugal, is wearing the number 21 national shirt — Jota's number — at this World Cup.

"I still talk to him," Neves told Portuguese television show Alta Definicao. "We have a WhatsApp group with Rute and Diogo, and it's still there, and we continue to talk there. Whenever something special happens, I have the conversations archived on my WhatsApp so I can continue to send him messages."

Neves helped carry Jota's coffin at the funeral in Gondomar — on the outskirts of Porto — on 5 July 2025, just hours after competing with Al Hilal at the Club World Cup in the United States. He has since had a tattoo on his left calf depicting himself embracing Jota, who is shown wearing the Portugal number 21 shirt.

"I and the entire national team will do everything we can to keep Diogo here with us, on our team," Neves said.

A symbol beyond borders

Jota scored 14 goals in 49 appearances for Portugal and had charted an unusual path to the top — moving from his hometown club Gondomar through Pacos de Ferreira, Porto, Wolverhampton, and eventually Liverpool without ever passing through the academies of Benfica, Sporting, or Porto.

Vitinha, who featured in Portugal's opening group game against DR Congo in Houston on 17 June, described the wristband initiative: "It has all the specifics for us to be able to enter the pitch with it, with the name of all the players plus the special name of Diogo Jota."

Jota's parents, Joaquim and Isabel, were present in Houston for that match and were seen wiping away tears during the tribute on the pitch. FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who met the couple, wrote on social media: "While celebrating these moments of togetherness, we continue to keep Diogo and Andre in our thoughts."

In Toronto's Little Portugal neighbourhood, Miguel de Silva, owner of the Amigos da Dundas sports bar, expressed what many Portuguese fans feel: "I think what he brings to the Portuguese players will be something special. Just one more reason for them to win the match."

The road to the last 16

Portugal have found goals hard to come by at this tournament, winning just one of their three group games. Victory over Croatia on Thursday, however, would set up a last-16 meeting with Spain or Austria.

"Diogo's dream is still with us and he sets the standards, he sets the light for the direction of this group," Martinez said. "Diogo will always be with us."

Liverpool have unveiled plans for a permanent memorial at Anfield in Jota's honour, while Portugal's football federation has erected a bronze tribute at their training centre near Lisbon.