Cristiano Ronaldo’s surprising decision to skip teammate Diogo Jota’s funeral was made out of respect for the grieving family, his sister claimed.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly assured the family of late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota that he will always support them after he was absent from his international team-mate's funeral on Saturday. The Portugal captain spoke with Jota's wife Rute Cardoso and his parents following the player's tragic death.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo absence from the funeral of Diogo Jota, and Jota's brother Andre Silva, has drawn sharp criticism from fans and pundits alike