A promise of support, and a “present” that was never delivered, have put Christiano Ronaldo at the center of a fierce backlash in Portugal. According to a report in the Portuguese Record, the national team captain contacted Diogo Jota‘s wife, Rute Cardozo, as well as the parents of the late Liverpool footballer, giving them his word that he will always be there for them.

However, he chose not to attend the joint funeral of Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, so as not to cause what he reportedly said was “communication chaos” with his presence. His decision took Portugal’s sporting public by surprise, as Ronaldo was almost certain to travel to Gondomar, near Porto, to say his final farewell with teammates and members of the national team.

“Where is the captain?” – The reactions in Portugal
The 40-year-old ace’s absence was even more noticeable as the internationals Joao Cancello and Ruben Neves moved in front of the cameras and national team coach Roberto Martinez arrived directly from the United States, Ronaldo was in Majorca enjoying moments of relaxation aboard his £5.5 million luxury yacht.

Several journalists were quick to criticise. Antonio Ribeiro Cristovao noted that “as team captain he has a responsibility to give an explanation”, while Luis Cristovao spoke of “unexplained absence”, adding that “whatever excuse is given, it will be very little”.

Support from afar but also shadows

Despite the strong criticism, some have defended Ronaldo, pointing out that he may have preferred not to turn the funeral into a spectacle because of the publicity that always follows him. He has reportedly assured Jota’s family that he will be by their side in whatever they need from now on.
However, for many, his absence from the side of his teammates and Jota’s family at the final farewell remains a shadow that will be talked about for a long time in Portugal.

“Sick society” – Katia Aveiro’s outburst

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister, Catia Aveiro, went on the offensive with a series of moving Instagram posts, claiming her brother’s decision was the right one and slamming those who, she said, “judge without reason.”

“When my father died, in addition to the pain of loss, we had to deal with a flood of cameras and strange looks at the cemetery and everywhere we went, she wrote.

The confession about their father

Continuing her confession, Katia Aveiro recalled the moments she lived through when their father “passed away”.

“And back then the attention of the world was not even what it is today. At no time were we (the children) able to leave the chapel; it was only at the moment of the burial that it became possible, so great was the loss.
At the funeral there were presidents, national team coaches of that time, such as Luis Felipe Scolari, etc. I don’t remember seeing any of them. And I’m sure they greeted me. The pain had blinded me.”

“Criticism for nothing”

Cristiano’s sister concluded meaningfully:“About pain, family and true support… You will never understand what they mean until you experience them. If someone sends me a message to judge anything my brother does, I will block him (ignore him completely), meaning he will only do it once.”
And she continued: “It’s getting tiring. The bigotry. The criticism of nothing – I repeat, nothing… Sick society… We all have families. It’s incredibly embarrassing to see TV channels, commentators and social media pay attention to an absence (which was right) instead of respectfully honoring the pain of a family torn apart by the loss of two siblings. I am ashamed just to watch it. Sad.
And so the world goes on… society and opinion. Today they are worth nothing. They have become empty pits with no bottom themselves. I’m sorry… And war is like that too. Believe me. Human evil is also a war. And every day we must fight against it. And so it goes.”

The “wave” of comments on X

“We all expected – as all the coaches and players were there – for the captain to stand next to his teammates,” one fan commented on Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence.

Another fan, commenting on X (formerly Twitter), wrote:“For Ronaldo not to interrupt his holiday to attend the funeral is unacceptable, both as a friend and as captain of Portugal. It was the least he could do.”

Referring to Ronaldo’s moving Instagram post when he learned of the tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, he added: “It’s not only the social media messages that count, nor only the money.”

At the same time, another X user, Flavia, suggested that Ronaldo may have decided not to attend so as not to draw all eyes to him and overshadow the final goodbye.

A follower agreed, commenting: “The problem is that a lot of people would show no respect and would just go to see Ronaldo and not Diogo.”

Mayorcan moments of relaxation

Local reports say Ronaldo was seen on his luxury yacht in Mallorca on the eve of the funeral of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.

Mallorca’s newspaper, Ultima Hora, wrote: “Cristiano Ronaldo has again chosen Mallorca as the destination for his summer holidays”, and according to the report, the Portuguese ace was spotted in the cosmopolitan resort of Illetes on Mallorca’s southwest coast and in the port of Andratx, on his £5.5 million yacht.

When yachts and luxury cars become an issue
It will be recalled that Ronaldo had previously holidayed in Mallorca three years ago with his family. In fact, at the time, one of his employees – believed to be his bodyguard – was injured when the sports car he was driving ran off the road and crashed into a stone wall outside Ronaldo’s holiday home. The Bugatti was one of two luxury cars he had been transporting to Mallorca.

Ronaldo was reportedly in another vehicle, in a small convoy with members of his family, when the accident happened. The damaged Bugatti was later removed on a crane, covered in blue tarpaulin, while the owner of the damaged house revealed that Ronaldo had pledged to cover the cost of restoration.

The touching message he left behind

In his touching Instagram message for newlywed Diogo Jota and his brother, Ronaldo wrote: “It doesn’t make any sense. Just a little while ago we were in the national team together, you just got married. To your family, your wife and your children I send my condolences and all the strength in the world. I know you’ll always be with them. Rest in peace Diogo and Andre. We will all remember you.”