Portuguese FA President Defends Cristiano Ronaldo Over Absence from Diogo Jota’s Funeral 

By Our Editor

The President of the Portuguese Football Federation, Pedro Proenca, has come to the defence of Cristiano Ronaldo following criticism over his absence from the funeral of Diogo Jota, who tragically died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash last month.

Jota’s death sent shockwaves through the footballing world, coming just 11 days after he married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso. The couple shared three young children: Dinis, 4, Duarte, 2, and baby Mafalda, just 8 months old.

While several Portuguese internationals such as Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, and Bernardo Silva were present at the funeral in Gondomar, Ronaldo’s absence drew public backlash, with some questioning his commitment and empathy.

However, Proenca described the criticism as “an immense injustice,” asserting that Ronaldo had shown deep personal grief and unwavering support for both Jota’s family and the national team.

“From the very beginning, the captain was with us,” Proenca stated. “He was one of the people most emotionally affected by the tragedy. His absence at the funeral was not due to indifference but to avoid drawing attention away from the mourning process.”

Ronaldo and Jota shared a strong bond as teammates on the national team, featuring together in 32 matches and celebrating success in the UEFA Nations League in both 2019 and 2025.

Following the incident, Ronaldo paid tribute via social media:
*“It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you had gotten married. To

Daily Mail