sports

Ronaldo Scores, Honours Jota in Portugal’s 2-1 Win

Published

3 months ago

July 3, 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Portugal’s 2-1 comeback over Croatia, scoring and paying tribute to Diogo Jota in a moving World Cup moment

Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Portugal national football team, led his side to a 2-1 comeback victory over Croatia in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32, scoring a key goal and later delivering an emotional tribute to former teammate Diogo Jota in a moment that resonated strongly with fans worldwide.

Also read: Spain Crush Austria 3-0 to Reach World Cup Last 16

The match saw Portugal fall behind early before Gonçalo Ramos restored parity, setting the stage for Ronaldo’s decisive contribution as Roberto Martínez’s side secured progression to the Round of 16, where they are set to face Spain.

Ronaldo, 41, marked the occasion with a deeply personal gesture after the final whistle, honouring Diogo Jota, who passed away last year.

The forward wore Jota’s iconic number 21 jersey on the pitch in a quiet but powerful display of remembrance that drew widespread attention.

In a post on his official X account, Ronaldo shared an image of the Portugal squad gathered on the pitch, with players, coaching staff and federation officials standing together. Holding Jota’s shirt, he wrote, “We won for ourselves, for Diogo, and for Portugal!!! LET’S GO!!!!.”

The message quickly gained traction among supporters, who praised the emotional unity shown by the squad following a hard-fought victory.

The gesture added a poignant layer to an already intense knockout fixture, blending sporting triumph with personal remembrance.

The win also highlighted Portugal’s resilience after conceding first, with Ramos’ equaliser shifting momentum before Ronaldo’s influence helped secure the result. The team’s performance reflected both tactical discipline and emotional strength under pressure.

Also read: Spain Crush Austria 3-0 to Reach World Cup Last 16

Ronaldo’s leadership throughout the match and post-match tribute underscored his enduring role within the squad, as Portugal continue their pursuit of World Cup glory with renewed determination and unity.

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Opinion

Why Are Football Fans Expecting Trophy Haul from Man City’s 114 Breaches?

Published

16 hours ago

September 30, 2026

Mariam Balogun

By Tai Emeka Obasi,

It is exceedingly terrible for clubs operating in a league as supremely elite as the English Premier League, EPL, to fraudulently cheat themselves to massive success.

Also read: NFF Appeals CAF Ruling on Edo Queens’ WAFU-B Victory

Rules are rules, and supposedly responsible club managements should comply with them in administering a game termed the beautiful game.

Manchester City is currently in the eye of the storm for all the wrong reasons.

A whopping 115 breaches were brought against the club, with reports now indicating that an independent commission found City guilty of 114 of them.

The club, however, maintains that the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality.

Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has appealed to the fans to remain calm and faithful, insisting that the club will continue to defend its position and pursue the available legal process.

According to reports, Manchester City is expected to appeal the verdict. The sanctions have not yet been announced, and the possible consequences could include a heavy fine, points deduction, stripping of titles or even relegation.

From the available reporting, however, there is no basis for football fans to start celebrating the prospect of receiving Manchester City’s trophies.

Even if titles were eventually stripped, the relevant period under investigation is 2009 to 2018.

During that period, Manchester City won three Premier League titles, in 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18, as well as three League Cups, in 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2017/18.

That immediately puts a different complexion on the matter.

For instance, Manchester United finished runners-up to City in the 2011/12 and 2017/18 Premier League seasons, while Liverpool finished second in 2013/14.

But whether those titles would actually be reassigned to the runners-up is another matter entirely.

There is no automatic rule that says a stripped title simply moves to the team that finished second. Any such outcome would depend on the eventual sanction imposed by the relevant authorities.

The same applies to Arsenal and the League Cup. Arsenal were beaten by City in the 2018 final, but that does not mean Arsenal would automatically inherit the trophy if City were sanctioned.

Expert opinion has suggested that the eventual punishment could include a substantial financial penalty and a huge points deduction, potentially severe enough to threaten City with relegation.

But until the sanction is formally determined, nobody can say with certainty what punishment Manchester City will receive.

For Gunners fans, therefore, we should lower our expectations from City’s debacle. Even if Manchester City are eventually found guilty after the appeal process and even if they are relegated, Arsenal will not stroll to this season’s title.

Our last match against Brighton and Hove Albion is a huge warning that our squad is not as complete as it is generally acclaimed to be.