Vitinha's Mission: Winning the Club World Cup in Honor of Diogo Jota

Vitinha: Not Ronaldo, But a Mission Bigger Than Fame

Vitinha, the Portugal international, is moved by the memory of his late teammate Diogo Jota as they head to the Club World Cup.

Remembering Diogo Jota as Motivation

Vitinha told CNN that lifting the Club World Cup would be more than a personal achievement, a humanitarian gesture tied to the memory of Diogo Jota, who died on July 3, 2025 in Spain after a tragic accident.

The 25-year-old added: 'It\'s hard to talk about this; no one wishes to be in such a position, it was a devastating and sad loss for everyone; what weighs on me most isn\'t the personal loss, but the impact on those left behind.'

What weighs on my heart is thinking about how his parents, his wife and his children are coping now.

Diogo Jota was one of Portugal and Europe\'s brightest stars before his death, having won the English Premier League title, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup with Liverpool, and he was a key figure for Portugal thanks to his varied attacking skills.

Credit: Getty Images

Punchline 1: If humor were a weapon, Vitinha would be a sniper—taking aim at boring defenses and delivering priceless moments of hope.

Punchline 2: They say aim for the top corner; Vitinha already did, with a memory that never misses the heart.