Joao Cancelo pays tribute to Diogo Jota with goal celebration
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesFootball often gives us moments that go beyond the game itself.
Sometimes it is not just about who scored or how the ball went into the net.
It is about the meaning behind the moment.
Fans watch for goals, but they also look for those small gestures that say more than numbers on the scoreboard.
Supporters of Liverpool know this feeling well.
They have seen players use celebrations as a way to connect, to remember, and to honor.
There is also something special about international football.
It is not just another league game.
It is the World Cup qualifiers, where every team fights to earn their place on the biggest stage in football.
The pressure is higher, but so are the emotions.
Every goal counts double, both for the scoreboard and for what it represents.
In matches like these, tributes hit harder.
They remind fans that players carry more than their boots and their jerseys.
They carry memories of the people who shaped them.
Portugal faced Armenia in their World Cup qualifier, and the match had an emotional highlight for Liverpool fans.
Portugal were already ahead thanks to Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Then came the third goal.
Ronaldo fired in a strong effort from the right side, which was blocked by Avagyan.
However, he could not control the rebound, and it invariably found Joao Cancelo.
Cancelo fired it down the middle to make it 3-0.
What followed made the night memorable.
In memory of Jota, Cancelo did Jota’s video game celebration, imitating someone playing a video game.
It is a fitting tribute to a departed teammate.
The gesture was for Diogo Jota, who passed away in July along with his brother Andre Silva.
For Liverpool supporters, this hit close to home.
Jota was not only a key figure for the Reds but also a player who brought joy with his goals and celebrations.
Seeing Cancelo honor him on the international stage, during a vital World Cup qualifier, was both moving and heartbreaking.
It reminded everyone that while trophies and titles matter, football’s deepest power lies in its ability to carry memories forward.
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