Portuguese FA President Defends Cristiano Ronaldo Over Funeral Absence

Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, has strongly defended Cristiano Ronaldo against criticism for not attending the funeral of teammate Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car accident along with his brother André Silva. Despite Ronaldo's absence from the funeral, which was attended by several Portugal and Liverpool teammates, Proença emphasized that Ronaldo was deeply affected by the tragedy and remained closely connected to both the national team family and Jota's relatives. Ronaldo chose not to attend to avoid overshadowing the funeral proceedings, opting instead to mourn privately while on a family holiday. Proença described the backlash against Ronaldo as unfair and an "immense injustice," highlighting Ronaldo's role as a true teammate and his ongoing commitment to the national team. Additionally, Proença addressed speculation about Ronaldo's international future, stating the striker will retire from the Portugal team only by choice or technical considerations, praising his continued contributions on the field. Ronaldo recently helped Portugal win the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League and remains the country's highest international goalscorer and most-capped player.