For someone who once described late Liverpool and Portuguese national Diego Jota as a close friend, whose demise made him cry a lot, Cristiano Ronaldo faced severe backlash from netizens and fans when he didn’t show up at his teammate's funeral.

Some supporters and commentators saw Ronaldo’s absence as disrespectful, while there were speculations that Ronaldo was holidaying in Mallorca at the time, which fueled anger and disappointment among fans.

However, the Al-Nassr captain has rebuffed the claims, stating that his absence was in respect to the memory of Jota.

During his interview with Piers Morgan, which aired on November 5, Cristiano Ronaldo said he didn’t attend Diogo Jota’s funeral because he barely goes out; anytime he appears somewhere, the place turns into “a circus,” and he didn’t want to create such a scene.

Liverpool and Portugal forward Jota and his brother André Silva tragically died in a car accident in July.

Ronaldo told Piers Morgan why he didn't attend, saying: "Two things; people criticise me a lot. I don't care about that. When your conscience is good and free, you don't have to worry about what people say.

"But one of the things I don't do? After my father died, I have never been to a cemetery again. When you know me, and you know my reputation? Wherever I go, it is a circus. I don't go out because, if I go, the attention goes to me. I don't want this sort of attention,” he mentioned.

According to him, he avoids granting interviews during sensitive times, as he believes those moments are not appropriate to speak about the people involved.

"I don't like it when you go to a sensitive moment to do interviews, to speak about him, to speak about football. This shows how a circus is life, sometimes. I am not a part of that. If you want to be a part of this world, good luck, but I will be a part of another side.

Despite what people said, about his being absent, he felt okay with his decision.

"People can continue to criticise. I felt good with my decision."

Virgil van Dijk, Arne Slot and Andy Robertson led the Liverpool squad at the funeral of Jota and his brother.

Former teammates Jordan Henderson and James Milner also attended, as well as Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes. Jota earned 49 caps for his country, twice winning the Nations League.

He also won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool.

The late Liverpool player, Diogo Jota and FC Penafiel's Andre Silva.

The brothers were killed in a tragic car crash on July 3 in the Spanish province of Zamora in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, at approximately 12:35 a.m. local time. Their funeral was held on July 5, at 10 a.m. local time in the Portuguese town of Gondomar.

The bodies of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva were sent to Gondomar, Portugal, on the night of Friday, July 4, just after 11:00 p.m. local time.

A convoy of hearses transported them from Puebla de Sanabria, Spain, near the site of the tragic crash, and they were met with quiet applause and mourning crowds outside the local chapel.

According to ESPN, as reported by Spain's Guardia Civil (Civil Guard). An investigation team has reported that the two's accident occurred when they overtook a car, their tyre blew, which led to their veering off the road and crashing into a barrier, and then immediately burst into flames.

The Spanish government official, Ángel Blanco, revealed that the car was completely burned and that the two players were inside the vehicle.

According to Miguel Gonçalves, a Portuguese physiotherapist who had recently treated Jota, the Liverpool forward had been advised to travel by car instead of flying after undergoing minor surgery on his right lung at the end of the season. Jota won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal last month.

Due to the severity of the fire, authorities had to use DNA testing and documents found in the wreckage to confirm their identities.

The brothers were reportedly en route to Santander to catch a ferry to the UK, as Jota had been advised not to fly following recent lung surgery.

Diogo recently got married two weeks before to his long-term girlfriend, Rute Cardoso. He is survived by three children. Diogo Jota’s brother was a 25-year-old Penafiel player in the Portuguese 2nd League.

The brothers boyhood club Gondomar SC, have honoured them with a special kit for the 2025-26 season for the two brothers.

The tribute kit by Gondomar SC was officially announced on August 3 via the club’s Instagram account and other social media platforms.

The club posted images of the new 2025–26 home, away, and third kits, each featuring large portraits of Diogo Jota and André Silva on the front, with their names appearing on the back beneath an infinity symbol, symbolising eternal remembrance.

The caption of the post read,

“Our new jersey brings in the great image of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, two sons of Gondomar who left us too soon, but who will live forever in the history of our club and our football. Every time our athletes put on this jersey, it’s like stepping on the field with them".

According to Gondomar SC, though the goal of football, as many perceive, is just notching goals and earning victories, they explain it as one that goes beyond this.

“Because football is more than victories and goals, it’s legacy, it’s family, it’s love for our land.”

The fourth-tier Portuguese side added: “More than a jersey, a tribute eternal.