Visibly moved, João Cancelo opened his heart when remembering Diogo Jota and revealed that the Seleção players have a special agreement for the 2026 World Cup: to always give an “extra” effort in honor of their former colleague.
In an interview with SIC’s Alta Definição program, the Portuguese international recalled the moment he learned of Diogo Jota’s death, in July last year, while he was in America. “I wake up and I have 20 messages from my wife. I call and my wife says: ‘Diogo Jota passed away’. When she told me that I started to burst into tears”, he said.
Cancelo confessed that, despite not having as close a friendship with Jota as other teammates, he had enormous affection for the striker and was particularly fond of assisting Diogo Jota’s goal against Sweden in the Nations League. “Today is one of the most beautiful of my career because of the feeling it has”, he admitted.
A few days before Portugal’s debut in the 2026 World Cup, the player revealed the pact made by the group: “It may not happen, we may not win, but each of us has to think about it when we enter the field and leave more than what we can give. It will have to be an extra.”
João Cancelo also explained that the team wants to bring joy to Diogo Jota’s family and make the former Portuguese international continue to feel part of this journey. “We try to be world champions and be able to say that Diogo was in that group”, he stated.
