Cristiano Ronaldo's absence from the joint funerals of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva has sparked controversy in Portugal, with reports emerging that the national team captain was holidaying in Majorca whilst team-mates gathered to pay their respects.
The 40-year-old was notably absent from both Friday's wake and Saturday morning's funeral mass at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar near Porto, despite expectations he would attend alongside Jota's club and country team-mates.
According to Majorcan newspaper Ultima Hora, Ronaldo was spotted aboard his £5.5 million yacht in the upmarket resort of Illetes and the port of Andratx.
The 88-foot Azimut Grande vessel, which features five luxury cabins and six bathrooms, has been the footballer's base during his Balearic holiday.
Cristiano Ronaldo's absence from the joint funerals of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva has sparked controversy in Portugal, with reports emerging that the national team captain was holidaying in Majorca whilst team-mates gathered to pay their respects
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Portuguese journalists have strongly criticised the Al-Nassr striker's decision not to attend the services.
Antonio Ribeiro Cristovao stated: "He is the captain of the Portugal squad. Many expected he would attend.
"Diogo Jota was part of the team. Maybe there are some reasons we don't know. If he doesn't attend, he has to explain the reason. He has that responsibility. He is the captain."
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota won the Nations League twice with Portugal while playing togetherGETTYSports journalist Luis Cristovao called the absence "inexplicable", whilst TV sports commentator Pedro Fatela added: "This absence will be much discussed.
"There must be justifications in the coming days. We will know why Cristiano wasn't able to travel to Gondomar to be present in this moment, but he is the captain.
"All of us were expecting, as all coaches and players were there, to have the captain side by side with his team-mates."
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Liverpool players were amongst those who filled the church for Saturday morning's service, including Portuguese internationals Bernardo Silva of Manchester City and Manchester United's Diogo Dalot.
Compatriots Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves, who were visibly emotional before their Club World Cup match in Orlando on Friday evening, also attended the funeral mass.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez made the journey from the United States, where he had been serving as a member of the FIFA Club World Cup Technical Study Group.
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Social media users expressed divided opinions about Ronaldo's absence from the funeral services.
One football fan wrote on X: "For Cristiano Ronaldo not to interrupt his holidays to appear at the funeral is something inadmissible as a friend and as Portugal's captain. It was the least he should have done."
However, some defended Ronaldo's decision, with one Portuguese X user suggesting: "I don't know if you realise what Cristiano Ronaldo means to Gondomar.
Diogo Jota's team-mates attended the funeral of the Liverpool star on Saturday
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"I understand it would be good for our captain to attend the funeral but we can't forget who Ronaldo is."
Another follower agreed, stating: "The problem is a lot of people have no respect and would have gone to have a chance of seeing Ronaldo and not for Diogo."