Diogo Jota’s No. 21 Portugal jersey will now be worn by his close friend and teammate Rúben Neves, head coach Robert Martinez announced on Friday.
Martinez made the announcement while revealing his first Portugal squad since the tragic deaths of former Liverpool and Portugal star Jota and his brother André Silva in a car crash in northern Spain on July 3.
“This is the first working camp without Diogo Jota,” Martinez said. “We know what Diogo meant to each of us and the impact he had on our lives. We want to honour his memory every day. He will be with us and be another force in achieving our goals. Diogo Jota’s example is a light for us. We will carry his spirit in our hearts. We will win for Diogo, for his brother André, and, as always, for all Portuguese people. In this new journey to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the number of players is 23 + 1, which is Diogo.”
Neves, who shared years with Jota in Portugal’s national teams and at club sides FC Porto and Wolves, served as a pallbearer at Jota’s funeral. Jota’s final appearance for Portugal came in the Nations League final victory over Spain in June.
“I think Diogo’s absence is a sign of unity, motivation, and responsibility, because Diogo wanted to win the World Cup,” Martinez added. “So we’re here to fight and do everything we can to achieve our dream. I can also report that Diogo Jota’s jersey number, 21, is now being passed on to Ruben Neves, and so it remains with all of us on the pitch.”
Following Jota’s death, Neves shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram:
“When I go to the national team, you’ll still be by my side at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane… you’ll always be there with me, as usual. We’ll keep laughing, making plans, sharing our lives with each other.”
Like Martinez, Neves has expressed his determination to help Portugal win its first World Cup to honour Jota’s memory.
Portugal begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in North America with matches against Armenia on September 6 and Hungary on September 9. Martinez’s squad also features 40-year-old star Cristiano Ronaldo and his new Al Nassr teammate João Félix.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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