Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has explained why he was unable to attend the funeral of his national teammate, Diogo Jota, who died in July alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in a car accident. Jota, 28, was widely regarded as one of Portugal’s most promising forwards.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo said his decision not to attend the ceremony was influenced by personal and practical considerations.
He said one reason was that he had avoided cemeteries since the death of his father. “One of the things I don’t do is, after my father died, I’ve never been to a cemetery again,” he stated.
Ronaldo also noted that his global profile often attracts significant public attention, which he believed would have shifted focus away from the family during a moment meant to be private.
“And second, you know my reputation. Wherever I go, it becomes a circus. If I go, the attention goes to me. I don’t want that kind of attention,” he said.
The Al Nassr forward said he decided with respect for Jota’s family and the need to preserve the solemnity of the occasion. “I felt good about the decision. I planned things thinking about his family,” he added.
The death of Jota, known for his humility and work ethic, shocked teammates, coaches and fans worldwide. Tributes have continued to pour in for the player, whose promising career was cut short.
