Cristiano Ronaldo Criticized for Skipping Diogo Jota’s Funeral While Vacationing on Luxury Yacht
According to Daily Mail on July 5, Cristiano Ronaldo did not travel to Gondomar, Portugal, where Jota’s funeral mass was held. Instead, Ultima Hora reported that he was vacationing on Spain’s Mallorca island, spotted aboard his £5.5 million, 88-foot luxury yacht “Azimut Grande,” equipped with six bathrooms and five deluxe cabins. He was seen visiting multiple high-end resorts during the trip.
British media reported that Ronaldo deliberately chose not to attend, fearing that his presence might overshadow the ceremony and disrupt the mourning process due to overwhelming media attention.
However, several of Jota’s fellow Portugal national team players, including Bruno Fernandes, João Cancelo, Rúben Neves, João Félix, and Bernardo Silva, all attended the funeral to pay their respects and console the bereaved family.
Portuguese sports journalist Luis Cristóvão commented, “It’s an inexplicable absence. No excuse can justify this mistake.” TV sports analyst Pedro Patella added, “As captain of the national team, Ronaldo was expected to be there alongside the coaches and players. His absence will spark serious debate unless a valid reason emerges soon.”
On social media platform X, one user wrote, “As a friend and as the captain of Portugal, Ronaldo should’ve at least suspended his vacation to attend the funeral. A simple Instagram post isn’t enough. It’s not just about money.”
Diogo Jota, who played for Atlético Madrid, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and most recently Liverpool in the English Premier League, died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, while traveling with his brother André Silva around 12:30 a.m. local time on July 3.
The tragedy is even more heartbreaking as Jota had recently married longtime partner Rute Cardoso, and they share three children.
