Portugal’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad carries a name that won’t appear on any team sheet but sits at the heart of everything the group is doing in the tournament. Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident on July 3, 2025, at the age of 28, has been officially registered as an honorary member of the national team’s roster.
Coach Roberto Martínez expanded the squad designation to what’s being called a “27+1” format, making room for Jota alongside the active players traveling to the tournament. His family, including his parents, have been invited as official guests of the Portuguese Football Federation and were present at Portugal’s opening match against DR Congo.
A career cut short, a legacy preserved
Jota earned 49 caps for Portugal and scored 14 goals in the national team shirt. He was part of Portugal squads that won the UEFA Nations League in both 2019 and 2025. Jota died alongside his brother André Silva in the July crash. He was 28 years old.
Wristbands, a prime minister, and collective grief
