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Joao Cancelo led the tributes to Diogo Jota as Portugal played its first game since the Liverpool star’s death.
Jota and his brother Andre Silva both tragically passed away after being involved in a car accident in Spain during the summer, with the pair having been making their way to the UK in time for Jota to link back up with his Liverpool teammates for pre-season.
A number of tributes have since been paid, including during the Reds’ games this season, and Saturday presented Portugal with its first outing without Jota as it took on Armenia in a World Cup qualifier.
A minute’s silence was held ahead of the game in Yerevan, with Jota’s former Wolves teammate and great friend Ruben Neves visibly moved on the Portuguese bench.
Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo would go on to put the visitors in control, with the former signalling the number 21 during his celebrations - Jota's jersey number for his national team.
Cancelo then made it 3-0 before half-time, and produced one of Jota’s iconic celebrations in tribute to his former teammate.
The ex-Manchester City fullback replicated Jota’s gaming celebration, which he most famously used after scoring a dramatic late winner for Liverpool against Tottenham back in 2023.
Jota was also honored by his international teammates in the build-up to Saturday’s game, with his family - including his widow Rute Cardoso - in attendance as a bronze shirt commemorating the forward was unveiled at Portugal’s training base in Lisbon.
Ronaldo and the rest of the Portuguese squad were also in attendance, with Neves - who has taken on Jota’s No.21 jersey for his country and had a tattoo in tribute to his good friend - paying an emotional tribute during the ceremony.
"Everyone in the national team felt these words to the same extent and speaking as a group, I think they fit extremely well with what our first meeting will be like. More than friends, we're family,” Neves said.
"And that won't change just because you've signed a contract a little farther from home.
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"When we join the national team, you'll still be with us - at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane. Always by our side, just like you've always been.
"We'll keep laughing, making plans and sharing life the way we always have.
"We'll make sure you're never missing from our lives and that your loved ones have everything they need while you're away, thinking of us, waiting for us.
"Life brought us together and nothing can break that bond. We've already achieved so much together, and there's still so much more ahead and we know we'll make it.
"From today on, you'll step on to the pitch with us and we'll keep moving forward together on the stage where it all began."
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