A deeply emotional funeral was held to honor Diogo Jota and his brother André Teixeira Silva, following the tragic car accident that claimed their lives. The service was attended by numerous current and former soccer players, including several of Jota’s teammates from Liverpool and the Portuguese national team. However, one notable absence caught everyone’s attention: Cristiano Ronaldo.
The wake took place in Gondomar, in northern Portugal, with several Portugal national team players in attendance, such as Rúben Dias, Bernardo Silva, and Bruno Fernandes, along with head coach Roberto Martínez. But Ronaldo, arguably Portugal’s most iconic player, did not appear, prompting widespread speculation.
Amid growing curiosity, the reason behind Ronaldo’s absence was revealed. His sister, Katia Aveiro, took to social media to explain the decision, while Portuguese outletA Bola reported that the Al-Nassr forward chose not to attend in order to “avoid turning the moment into a media circus.”
“Cristiano is a media figure. Wherever he goes, it causes a stir,” Katia wrote.
“My brother can’t go to weddings because it draws attention away from the couple. He can’t go to a nephew’s birthday or one of my events. He can’t even go to a café or sit on a terrace, for obvious reasons. When our father died 19 years ago, there was no respect. And that was our father. Imagine what it would’ve been like if Cristiano had gone to the wake of Diogo and André.”
She went on to add:
“We all have families. It’s shamefully absurd to see TV channels, commentators, and social media focus on a single absence instead of honoring the grief of a shattered family mourning the loss of two brothers. Honestly, I’m ashamed. It’s heartbreaking. When it comes to grief, family, and real support… you don’t know what it truly means until you’ve lived it.”
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Lionel Messi joins Cristiano Ronaldo in mourning: Inter Miami star honors Diogo Jota in short but emotional tribute
While Ronaldo’s absence sparked headlines, those closest to the family have called for respect, urging the media and public to focus on the profound loss rather than the presence—or absence—of any one individual.
