Ruben Neves couldn’t hold back his emotions after scoring a dramatic late winner for Portugal then dedicating the goal to his best friend, Diogo Jota, who tragically died in July.
– ADEVERTISEMENT –
Neves found the net deep into stoppage time to seal a 1–0 win over the Republic of Ireland in Lisbon, heading in Francisco Trincao’s cross just when it looked like Portugal would drop points.
Cristiano Ronaldo had earlier missed a golden chance to break the deadlock, seeing his penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher. But Neves stepped up in the final moments, scoring his first-ever goal for the national team.
– ADEVERTISEMENT –
It was a moment loaded with emotion Portugal’s first home match since Jota’s death. As the ball hit the back of the net, Neves kissed the number 21 on his shirt and pointed to the sky in tribute.
In August, the national team confirmed Neves would take Jota’s number 21 shirt to honour his long-time friend and former teammate.
Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal forward, tragically died in a car crash in northern Spain at just 28, alongside his brother Andre Silva, 25. He had married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, only 11 days earlier.
At the time, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said Neves was the “ideal person to represent” Jota, explaining that handing over the shirt meant the forward would “remain on the field and with all of us.”
– ADEVERTISEMENT –
Neves and Jota had shared a close bond from their time together at Wolves, and last month Neves revealed a tattoo on his calf showing the two hugging. After scoring against Ireland, he rolled down his sock to show it again.
Speaking to Sport TV after the game, Neves admitted the moment felt fated.
“I think so my first goal for the national team, with this number, couldn’t have been better,” he said.
“It was the desire and passion he had to be here with us. The coach said that each of us would inherit a little bit of who Diogo was, and today was one of those games. It had to be this way.”