In Portugal FIFA World Cup The campaign enters its knock-out phase with emotions racing, as Roberto Martinez’s side prepare to face Croatia in the Round of 32 on Thursday in Toronto.Continuing their quest for a place in the last 16, Portugal will have an extra goal. By the time it starts in Canada, it will already be July 3rd in Portugal, celebrating one year since then. Diogo Jota and his younger brother André Silva lost their lives in a car accident in the west of Spain.The memorial has brought back memories of the loss that shocked the football world. Jota was 28 years old when he died, while Silva was 25. Although both were known for their football careers, those close to them often talk about the impact they made more than the game.Silva played as a midfielder for Portuguese club Penafiel and graduated in 2025. Jota, meanwhile, established himself as one of Portugal’s leading players and celebrated success in the Premier League with Liverpool. Just 11 days before the accident, he married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso. He also left behind three children.Jota was part of Portugal’s side that lifted the UEFA Nations League title in June 2025, and his next ambition is to help the national team compete for the World Cup. Although he didn’t get the chance to fulfill that dream, Martinez says his memory continues to inspire the entire team.“I think we have to respect Diogo Jota,” Martinez said after Portugal’s goalless draw against Colombia on Saturday.“I think it is a moment of gratitude that everything we started in this team started with him. We won the League of Nations with him. Maybe he is the symbol and the light of the great motivation we have. We want to win him the World Cup.”Portugal’s path to the knockout stage has not been straightforward. After opening their campaign with victory in Uzbekistan, Roberto Martinez’s side were held goalless by DR Congo before a 0-0 draw against Colombia. The results were enough to see Cristiano RonaldoThe team is about to enter the Round of 32, where they will face each other Luka ModricCroatia at Toronto Stadium.A win would keep Portugal’s World Cup hopes alive, but would also have a deeper meaning. On the first anniversary of Jota’s death, advancing to the tournament will be another step towards fulfilling a dream that the former Liverpool player never had the chance to realize, the club is determined to honor his memory on the biggest stage of football.