Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Silence On Not Attending Diogo Jota's Funeral: 'After My Father Died...'

Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Silence On Not Attending Diogo Jota's Funeral

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo has addressed criticism regarding his absence from the funeral of his late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota. He stated that his conscience is clear and explained the reasons for his decision.

Tragic Loss

Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, tragically died in a car accident in July, shocking the football community. While many teammates and friends attended the funeral, Ronaldo did not appear among them, which sparked public debate.

Ronaldo’s Explanation

In an interview with Piers Morgan, the 40-year-old explained that he has avoided cemeteries ever since the death of his father and wanted to prevent turning the solemn occasion into a media spectacle.

“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. After my father died, I have never been to a cemetery again. 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.”

“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. People can continue to criticise, but I choose to stay on the other side.”

Author’s Summary

Ronaldo explained his absence from Diogo Jota’s funeral as an act of respect, motivated by personal grief and a desire to avoid turning the moment into a public spectacle.

News18 — 2025-11-08