Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Silence On Not Attending Diogo Jota's Funeral
Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo addressed the criticism surrounding his absence from the funeral of his late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car accident earlier this year. The incident, which also claimed the life of Jota’s brother, Andre Silva, deeply affected the football community.
Ronaldo, speaking in an interview with Piers Morgan, explained his reasons for not attending, stating that he acted according to his conscience and long-held personal boundaries.
“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.”
The 40-year-old clarified that he hasn’t been to a cemetery since his father’s death, explaining that attending would attract excessive attention and distract from the solemnity of the occasion.
“After my father died, I have never been to a cemetery again. Wherever I go, it becomes a circus. I don’t want that kind of attention.”
Ronaldo expressed frustration with the media’s response to personal tragedies, adding that he prefers to stay away from situations that invite unnecessary publicity.
“I don’t like it when, during sensitive moments, people rush to do interviews and turn it into a show. Life can be a circus sometimes, but I choose to stay out of it. People can keep criticising.”
Summary
Cristiano Ronaldo defended his choice not to attend Diogo Jota’s funeral, citing personal grief boundaries and a desire to avoid turning the solemn event into a media spectacle.