Cristiano Ronaldo has gifted a commemorative watch from Portugal's Nations League victory to the family of the late Diogo Jota. The gesture comes after the Portugal captain faced criticism for not attending the Liverpool star's funeral following a car crash that also claimed his brother's life.
Ronaldo, who captained Portugal to Nations League success, commissioned personalised watches from his friend Jacob Arabo for each of his international teammates. The watch bearing Jota's name and number was delivered to his family, as revealed by Portuguese outlet SIC. The custom timepieces, produced by Jacob&Co, feature a skeleton dial, bespoke design, and the Portuguese crest, with 35 pieces made for the squad.
Portugal's victory in the Nations League final saw them come from behind twice against Spain, with Jota coming off the bench. Goals from Nuno Mendes and Ronaldo forced penalties, where Portugal scored all five to secure the title. The watches were delivered in time for Portugal's first World Cup qualifying match against Armenia.
Ronaldo explained his absence from Jota's funeral in a recent interview with Piers Morgan, stating he has not visited a cemetery since his father's death. He said: 'When your conscience is good and free, you don't have to worry about what people say... I don't go out because, if I go, the attention goes to me. I don't want this sort of attention.'
The price of the personalised watches has not been disclosed, but estimates suggest they amount to several hundred thousand euros. Jacob&Co described the watch as 'as exceptional as the champions themselves'.
