Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Silence On Not Attending Diogo Jota's Funeral: 'After My Father Died...'

Cristiano Ronaldo Addresses Absence from Diogo Jota's Funeral

Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo did not attend the funeral of his late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota earlier this year, drawing criticism from some fans and media.

Ronaldo's Explanation in Interview with Piers Morgan

The 40-year-old forward spoke openly about his decision during a broad interview with Piers Morgan. Ronaldo shared that since his father's passing, he has avoided cemeteries and chose not to attend Jota’s funeral to prevent turning the event into a spectacle.

“Two things; people criticise me a lot. I don’t care about that. When your conscience is good and free, you don’t have to worry about what people say. But one of the things I don’t do? After my father died, I have never been to a cemetery again. When you know me and you know my reputation? Wherever I go, it is a circus. I don’t go out because, if I go, the attention goes to me. I don’t want this sort of attention.”

Ronaldo's View on Public Attention and Privacy

He expressed discomfort with media intrusion during sensitive times, suggesting that attending such moments often turns into unwanted publicity:

“I don’t like it when you go to a sensitive moment to do interviews, to speak about him, to speak about football. This shows how a circus is life, sometimes. If you want to be a part of this world, good luck, but I will be a part of another side. People can continue to criticise.”

Background on Diogo Jota's Passing

Author's summary: Cristiano Ronaldo explained his absence from Diogo Jota's funeral, citing personal grief and his discomfort with public attention during sensitive moments as reasons for skipping the event.

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News18 News18 — 2025-11-08

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