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Cristiano Ronaldo sparks outrage for failing to attend the funeral of Diogo Jota and his brother.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from the emotional joint funeral of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, has triggered a media storm and divided fans on social media.
The 40-year-old Portugal captain was noticeably missing from both the wake on Friday and the funeral mass held on Saturday morning at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar near Porto.
His Portugal teammates, including Bernardo Silva, Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo, and Ruben Neves, were present to pay their respects, some visibly emotional, with Cancelo and Neves reportedly in tears during a pre-funeral match in Orlando.
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However, according to Mallorca Magazin, Ronaldo was not only absent but had been spotted cruising the Balearic coastline aboard his lavish £5.5 million Azimut Grande yacht, boasting five cabins, six bathrooms, and enough luxury to rival any five-star hotel.
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The publication wrote, “Cristiano Ronaldo has chosen Majorca again as a destination to enjoy his summer vacation… seen in Illetes and the port of Andratx.”
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Calls for accountability
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Prominent Portuguese journalist Antonio Ribeiro Cristovao commented from outside the funeral as per the Daily Mail:
“He is the captain of the Portugal squad. Many expected he would attend. If he doesn’t, he has to explain the reason. He has that responsibility.”
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Sports commentator Luis Cristovao called the no-show “inexplicable,” while fellow pundit Pedro Fatela added, “There must be justifications in the coming days.”
Cristiano did, however, post an emotional tribute on social media following news of the brothers’ deaths after their £180,000 Lamborghini Huracan suffered a fatal tyre blowout while en route to Santander.
Jota, recovering from recent lung surgery, had opted to travel by ferry to Liverpool rather than fly, before an attempt to overtake resulted in the brothers untimely demise.
Ronaldo wrote on social media: “Doesn't make any sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you were married. To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. R.I.P. Diogo and Andre We will all miss you.”
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12:41 - 03.07.2025
Diogo Jota – 5 things we will never forget about the Liverpool star
The global football community awoke to devastating news early this morning, as reports confirmed the sudden and untimely passing of Liverpool's prolific forward, Diogo Jota.
Ronaldo divides fans following absence from Diogo Jota’s funeral
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On social media, fans remain torn.
One Portuguese X user, Flavia, reasoned, “I understand why he doesn’t show up. I don’t know if you realise what Cristiano Ronaldo means to Gondomar.”
Another user added, “The problem is a lot of people have no respect and would have gone to have a chance of seeing Ronaldo and not for Diogo.”
While some argue his presence could have overshadowed the solemn event, others feel Ronaldo owed more to his late teammate, and his nation.
Whether justifiable or not, Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence has ignited a firestorm, with critics demanding answers and supporters pleading for understanding.
For now, the five-time Ballon d’Or has not broken silence since his social media tribute to Jota on Thursday, July 3.
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