Cristiano Ronaldo was overcome with emotion after Portugal's dramatic World Cup victory over Croatia, paying a heartfelt tribute to the late Diogo Jota on the first anniversary of his former team-mate's death.
The Portugal captain struggled to hold back tears following the dramatic 2-1 last-32 triumph in Toronto before dedicating the victory to Jota, who tragically died in a car crash in Spain on July 3 last year.
In poignant scenes after the final whistle, Ronaldo emerged carrying a Portugal shirt bearing Jota's name and the No 21 on the back before wearing it as he celebrated with teammates and supporters.
The 41-year-old was visibly emotional as television cameras caught him wiping tears from his face after one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament.
Supporters quickly reacted to the touching moment on social media.
"Cristiano Ronaldo points at the sky in tears while wearing Diogo Jota's shirt," one fan wrote on X. "This is for Diogo."
Another added: "Genuinely brought tears to my eyes.
"The leadership and profound respect Ronaldo has shown today is unmatched.
Cristiano Ronaldo was overcome with emotion after Portugal's dramatic World Cup victory over Croatia, paying a heartfelt tribute to the late Diogo Jota on the first anniversary of his former team-mate's death
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Cristiano Ronaldo also held Diogo Jota's shirt number aloft after helping Portugal beat Croatia at the World Cup
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"Keeping Diogo Jota's memory alive on the biggest stage of all. He will never be forgotten."
Ronaldo continued wearing Jota's shirt as he collected the Player of the Match award before explaining just how significant the date had been for everyone inside the Portugal camp.
"We knew what does this date mean for us. We knew it," he said. "We won for Diogo, for us, for Portugal.
"We knew it before the game, it was such a special moment.
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Five things to know about Cristiano Ronaldo | GETTY/GB NEWS"We speak today before the game, our group, that the coincidence of life, it's unbelievable.
"It means a lot to us, not only because we won the game."
Earlier in the evening, Ronaldo had dragged Portugal back into the contest by calmly converting a penalty after a VAR review.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward was then substituted with nine minutes remaining in normal time as Roberto Martinez looked to inject fresh energy into his side.
Watching from the dugout, Ronaldo saw Goncalo Ramos head home the decisive goal four minutes into stoppage time to spark wild celebrations among the Portugal players.
The drama was far from over, however.
Croatia believed they had forced extra time when Josko Gvardiol bundled the ball into the net in the 103rd minute.
Yet a lengthy VAR review found Mateo Pasalic had been offside earlier in the move, ensuring Portugal's lead remained intact before the final whistle confirmed their place in the last 16.
Goncalo Ramos scored late as Portugal booked their place in the World Cup round of 16
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The emotional tributes began immediately afterwards.
Ronaldo walked onto the pitch carrying Jota's shirt before draping it over his shoulders and leading the Portugal squad towards their jubilant supporters.
A giant image of Jota had already been displayed on the big screens inside BMO Field following the Portuguese national anthem before kick-off, ensuring the Liverpool forward's memory remained at the forefront throughout the occasion.
Before leaving the pitch, Ronaldo gathered every Portugal player and member of the coaching staff on the halfway line.
He then held the shirt aloft, turning it around so Jota's name and No 21 could be seen by supporters before pointing towards the sky in an emotional final gesture.
Portugal's victory also saw Ronaldo reach another remarkable milestone, with the penalty marking his first knockout-stage goal across six World Cups and his 11th goal overall in the competition.
Roberto Martinez's side will now continue their World Cup campaign against Spain in Dallas on Monday.