World Cup Story Feed / 世界杯事情流
World Cup Story Feed / 世界杯事情流
[Fictional Simulation Setting Note: This article is written based on a game match report/fictional timeline. In reality, Diogo Jota is alive and active in professional football.]
[Fictional Simulation Setting Note: This article is written based on in-game reports/fictional timelines. In reality, Diogo Jota is currently alive and active in professional football.]
Before the FA bus started, a batch of silicone wristbands was handed out in the locker room.
FIFA’s strict rule is 26 players, but these wristbands were engraved with 27 names. The extra one was Diogo Jota. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro handed them out before the team left for the U.S., without any lengthy official speech, just handing over the items. At the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Portugal’s opening match was against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Before flying to North America, this extra name weighed heavier on the wrist than the luggage of all 26 players combined.
Jota died in a car crash, nearly a year ago.
He was 28 years old. He missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to injury, taking the regret of never stepping onto World Cup match grass into the grave. He made 49 appearances for the national team, scoring 14 goals. This stat might not stand out among a top club’s starting lineup, but it was enough to cause a cliff-like drop in Portugal’s attacking depth.
Vitinha mentioned in an interview that Jota’s regret led to these armbands and wristbands. The dead don’t tweet asking for souvenirs; it was the living teammates who couldn’t bear the empty locker board in the dressing room. Twenty-six living players filled the tactical board, while the 27th name was locked away in a locker no one dared touch. Silicone costs nothing, but worn on the wrist, each touch of those letters was a reminder to those on the pitch of who wasn’t there.
Jota’s widow posted wedding photos on social media. That day was their first wedding anniversary. The national team was preparing for the opening match, while she was flipping through photos from a year ago. In the pictures, he wore a suit, smiling carefreely. Those were the last good days before his accident.
The players walked through the tunnel, facing the Democratic Republic of Congo’s defense. The silicone wristband bit into their flesh. The tally of 49 games and 14 goals was settled; the list of 27 names was submitted. The referee blew the whistle, and all that remained was what happened on the grass.