Leisure Note: For Jota, pay tribute to the 1-minute silence at the Club World Cup

Xinhua News Agency reporters Yue Ranran and Dong Yixing

Portugal striker Diogo Jota died in a car accident, which put the world football in a sad atmosphere.

On the night of July 4, the breeze was cold in the Lincoln Financial Stadium in the United States.

The day was the US National Day and the quarterfinals of the 2025 Club World Cup, with Chelsea against Palmeiras. Before the game, the bursting light of fireworks made the sky clear and welcoming the players of the two teams to the stage.

As Jota's national teammate and friend during his lifetime, Chelsea player Neto walked out of the passage. He frowned, touched his chest, and was wearing a blue jersey on his shoulders, with the names of Jota and his younger brother Andre printed on it. On the 3rd, Jota and his younger brother Andre died in a car accident in Spain. FIFA announced that he would watch Jota's silence before the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup on the 4th and 5th.

At around 9 p.m., the huge electronic screen in the venue stopped and threw a heavy black background. In the center was a black and white photo of Ruota and his younger brother, with the names and year of birth and death written below. In the center of the stadium, players from both teams stood around the center circle. As the silence began, Neto and Enzo raised their jerseys together and looked at Jota on the big screen. The silent sorrow is even more heartbreaking at this moment.

The scene was silent.

Many players closed their eyes, maybe there was Ruota's agile figure in the darkness, and his happy smile after scoring the goal... Everything was vivid and became a phantom. 65,782 viewers were silent, regardless of nationality, skin color, or team they belonged to, all bowed their heads. Many people's eyes were red and tears rolled down their cheeks.

Jota has played for Porto, Premier League team Wolves and other clubs in his career, and joined Liverpool in 2020. During his time at Liverpool, he played 182 times for the team, scoring 65 goals, and won multiple trophies including the 2024-2025 Premier League championship. As a member of the Portuguese national team, Jota once won the UEFA Nations League championship twice in 2019 and 2025... The black and white photo is like a huge and cold medal, telling the glory of Jota during his lifetime.

The whistle sounded at the end of the silence, short and abrupt, like a sharp blade slashing through the sky. Then, the audience burst into applause, as if applauding Ruota.

Fortunately on this planet, there are footballs that can make thousands of flags hang down for one person and make fans of different skin colors cry for a star. We once roared for victory and heartbroken for failure. At this moment, we only silent for life and pay tribute to the dead, because in the world of football, in the face of love and loss, all living beings are brothers.

Salute to this minute of green field, it is the vastest place that human compassion and unity can reach.