Ruben Neves kissed Diogo Jota‘s shirt number in tribute to his late friend after scoring the winner for Portugal in their World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in Lisbon.
Portugal looked poised to drop points with the score remaining goalless in the closing stages, after Cristiano Ronaldo had seen a penalty superbly saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Roberto Martinez’s side finally broke the deadlock in stoppage time, after Neves ghosted into the box to head in Francisco Trincao’s cross to give Portugal a dramatic late lead.
The goal was Neves first for Portugal and came in the national team’s first home match since Jota’s death in July.
After celebrating with his team-mates Neves was seen kissing his No 21 shirt and pointing to the sky in honour of Jota.
In August, Portugal had confirmed that Neves would wear Jota’s 21 shirt to honour his long-time friend and former team-mate.
Ruben Neves kissed Diogo Jota’s No 21 shirt after scoring a last gasp winner against the Republic of Ireland
Jota’s shirt number for Portugal was passed on to his close friend Neves back in August
Neves had burst into the box and headed Portugal into a 1-0 lead in second half stoppage time
It followed the Liverpool and Portugal star tragically dying at the age of 28 alongside his brother Andre Silva, 25, after a car crash in northern Spain in July.
He had married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, just 11 days before the incident, which took place while he was driving back to the UK for pre-season.
Portugal had announced that Neves, who played with Jota at Wolves, would be the ‘ideal person to represent him’.
Martinez said by passing on Jota’s number it would ensure the forward would ‘remain on the field and with all of us.’
Neves had paid a personal tribute to Jota, as he last month revealed a tattoo on his left calf which showed the pair hugging.
The midfielder rolled down his sock after scoring against the Republic of Ireland in another tribute to his late friend.
Neves was asked post-match whether the goal had been ‘written in the stars’, while it was put to the midfielder that the winner had been similar to goals Jota had scored during his career.
Neves rolled down his sock to show his tattoo of him and Jota in a tribute to his late friend
The match was Portugal’s first at home since Jota’s tragic death back in July
Fans were seen paying their own tributes, with one holding up a Liverpool shirt with Jota’s name
‘I think so, my first goal for the national team, with this number, couldn’t have been better,’ Neves told Sport TV.
‘It was the desire and passion he had to be here with us.
‘He [Martinez] said that each of us would inherit a little bit of who Diogo was, and today was one of those games.
‘A very difficult game, with a team defending extremely low, with practically no space. It had to be this way.’
Neves and Jota played together for Porto, Wolves and Portugal, and featured on the pitch at the same time a total of 164 times.
Neves had been one of the pallbearers at Jota’s funeral, while he also supported Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso during a Wolves match back in August.
The midfielder’s late winning goal continued Portugal’s perfect record in World Cup qualifying to date.
Portugal are top of their group on nine points having won all three of their matches, five points clear of Hungary, with Martinez’s side closing in on direct qualification to the World Cup.
