If there is a through line to the outpouring of grief across the footballing world after the death of Diogo Jota, it is the sense of a footballer who was deeply admired. Supporters, teammates and coaches might have adored his talent but there was something deeper about this man that means his passing is so painful even for those who don't know him.

As a child Diogo Jota idolized Cristiano Ronaldo. In a career that took him to soccer stardom, he would go on to call the Portugal great a teammate and win some of the sport’s biggest trophies.

Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his profound sorrow following the untimely passing of his Portugal teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash at the age of 28. Ronaldo and Jota had recently celebrated victory together as Portugal clinched their second UEFA Nations League title by defeating Spain in a penalty shootout.