On the wrist of Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates this evening there will be a bracelet engraved with the name of the late Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident on the night between 2 and 3 July 2025. A tragedy that has marked Portuguese football and fans around the world
A gift from the prime minister, with everyone’s names
Vitinha explained the history of the accessory during the press conference on June 14th. The bracelet is a gift from Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who met the team in the United States and made sure that it could be worn on the pitch: no small detail, because an object on the wrist, during an official match, must comply with precise regulatory parameters. It was precisely the Prime Minister’s intervention that obtained the bureaucratic green light to wear it during matches.
The emptiness of July 3rd
To understand the weight of the gesture we need to go back to last summer. On 3 July 2025 Diogo Jota lost his life in a car accident in Spain, together with his brother André Silva; he was 28 years old. The Liverpool striker had just returned from perhaps the best months of his life (he had just married his longtime partner) and was a pillar of the national team. With Portugal he had made 49 appearances and 14 goals, leaving his mark both on the pitch and in the dressing room.
The match that isn’t like the others
The debut with Congo, in this sense, brings with it a meaning that goes beyond the result. It is Portugal’s first match in a World Cup since Jota’s death, and coach Roberto Martínez, in the preparation phase, has repeatedly recalled its human value even before its sporting value. The bracelet, moreover, will accompany the national team for the entire American adventure, not just for one evening. So, while the odds all lean towards the Lusitanians, the real news of the day lies in an object of just a few grams. Eleven on the pitch, plus a name engraved on the wrist of each one: Portugal will play with twelve men this evening.
Portugal-Congo: timetable, lineups and where to see it
Portugal-Democratic Republic of Congo, valid for the first day of group K, will be played today, Wednesday 17 June, at the NRG Stadium in Houston, with kick-off at 7pm Italian time. The match is live exclusively on DAZN, streaming via app and website.
These are the probable formations:
Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Inácio, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes; Bernardo Silva, C. Ronaldo, Neto. All. R.Martinez
Congo (4-2-3-1): Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Pickel, Moutoussamy; Bongonda, Kakuta, Wissa; Bakambu. All. Desabre. Referee: Al Jassim (Qatar)
