Cristiano Ronaldo's reason why he didn't attend the funeral of his Portugal teammate Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, has been given.
The pair tragically died in a car accident while traveling to catch a ferry to England for Liverpool’s pre-season.
The funeral, held in Gondomar near Porto, was attended by many footballers, including Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Bernardo Silva, and national team coach Roberto Martínez.
Former Manchester United star Ronaldo’s absence became a widely discussed topic, with many on social media criticizing him for not fulfilling what they saw as his duty as national team captain.
However, the reason for his decision was confirmed by Portuguese outlet A Bola and explained further by his sister, Katia Aveiro: Ronaldo chose not to attend to avoid turning the funeral into a media spectacle that could distract from the grief and privacy of Jota and Silva’s family.
Ronaldo reportedly contacted Jota’s immediate family and together they agreed his absence was the most respectful option.
Katia Aveiro defended her brother’s decision, highlighting the enormous attention Ronaldo’s presence would generate at any public event.
She pointed out that even family occasions, such as weddings or birthdays, become the center of media focus if Ronaldo attends.
She recalled their own father’s funeral, where the media attention overshadowed the family’s mourning, and stressed that the same would happen if Ronaldo attended Jota and Silva’s service.
“Cristiano is a global figure. Wherever he goes, it causes a stir. My brother can’t go to weddings, birthdays, or even a café without drawing attention. When our father died, there was no respect. Imagine what it would’ve been like if Cristiano had gone to the wake of Diogo and André,” Katia explained.
Despite not being present, Ronaldo reached out personally to Jota’s parents and wife, Rute, offering his support and assuring them he would always be available for the family whenever needed
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