It is said that Ronaldo was hit hard by a dream of winning the championship! Jota died unexpectedly, and five major hidden dangers in the World Cup in Portugal were exposed!

When Portuguese football is at its peak, a sudden tragedy casts a shadow on this champion team. The national team's main striker Jota unfortunately passed away in the golden period of his career. This incident is not only a personal tragedy, but also has a substantial impact on Portugal's preparations for the 2026 US-Canada-Mexico World Cup. The following analysis is analysed the multiple weakening of the team's competitiveness by this change: First, the team suffered a structural blow on the offensive end. As an important scorer of the national team, Jota contributed 14 goals in 49 international matches, and his stable output ability is difficult to replace. At the club level, he maintained an average of 0.35 goals per game during his time at Liverpool, and this high yielding performance made him an indispensable "second fire point" for the Portuguese forward. Losing such an efficient shooter will directly affect the team's scoring ability in key games.

Secondly, the flexibility of the tactical system is significantly reduced. Modern football's requirements for strikers are increasingly diversified, and Jota is a typical example of this trend. He can play in multiple positions such as center and winger. He can not only attack the opponent's defense as a starting player, but also change the rhythm of the game as a tactical move. This all-round feature provides the coaching staff with a rich space for tactical choices. With his absence, Portugal's offensive routines will become more single, and the opponent's defensive deployment will also be more targeted.

More far-reaching influence is reflected in the team's spirit. Jota is not only a tactical chess piece on the field, but also an important spiritual pillar in the locker room. Even during his absence due to injury in the 2022 World Cup, he still insisted on supporting the team and showed outstanding professional spirit. This silent role model power is crucial to shaping team cohesion. Without such a spiritual leader, the team's psychological resilience in high-pressure games will face a test.

This emergencies forced the Portuguese football community to reassess the prospects for the World Cup. At the competitive level, it is necessary to find suitable forward alternatives; at the psychological level, we must get out of the haze and revitalize morale as soon as possible. How to deal with this series of challenges will directly determine the team's competitiveness in future competitions.

The head coach of Santos highly praised Jota as the "team spiritual leader", and this spiritual power is particularly critical in a long-term closed training environment. The Portuguese team's loss this time not only involves the strength of the lineup, but also has a profound impact on the team's morale.

From a tactical perspective, Jota's death had a structural impact on the Portuguese offensive system. As a forward team that has been partnering with Ronaldo for many years, the two have formed a high degree of understanding after international competitions. During the 2025 European League championship, this played a decisive role in the collaborative combat capabilities of the forward partners. The details of the personal friendship mentioned by Ronaldo in his memorials further highlight the deep friendship between the two beyond their professional relationship. This tactical understanding based on long-term cooperation was originally an important advantage for Portugal to compete in the World Cup.

There is only one year left before the opening of the World Cup, and the team needs to rebuild the offensive cooperation system. Especially in the high-intensity knockout stage, this sudden lineup change may lead to a decrease in offensive efficiency. The head coach needs to adjust his tactical deployment as soon as possible and find a new forward combination plan.

From the perspective of player load management, Jota's absence will significantly increase Ronaldo's game pressure. Although Ronaldo, who is about to turn 41, remains in excellent form, modern football puts higher requirements on the physical fitness allocation of older players. In the 2022 World Cup match against Switzerland, when the strong forwards share the offensive responsibilities, Ronaldo is able to fully utilize his tactical value. The lack of core rotation players today may lead to the opponent's targeted defensive strategies, which will directly affect the offensive diversity of Portugal.

The general view of the fan group believes that Ronaldo has long been responsible for leading the team to alternate between old and new. At the current critical stage of development, the unexpected death of the main forward has seriously affected the team's forward rotation depth. The coaching staff needs to reevaluate the existing player configuration and formulate corresponding tactical adjustment plans to deal with various challenges that may arise during the preparations for the World Cup.