The claim that Cristiano Ronaldo immediately sent 10 million euros to the family of his late teammate Diogo Jota to support his wife, Rute Cardoso, and their three children—Dinis, Duarte, and Mafalda—following Jota’s tragic death in a car accident on July 3, 2025, appears to be unsubstantiated based on available information. While Ronaldo and Jota shared a close bond as teammates on Portugal’s national team, winning two UEFA Nations League titles together, no credible sources confirm a specific 10 million euro donation. However, reports and social media posts indicate Ronaldo has pledged significant support for Jota’s family, though the exact nature and amount remain unverified.

Ronaldo’s absence from the joint funeral of Jota and his brother André Silva on July 5 in Gondomar, Portugal, sparked controversy, with fans and commentators like Luis Cristovao calling it “inexplicable” given his role as Portugal’s captain. In response, Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, defended him on social media, criticizing detractors and emphasizing his private support for Jota’s family. According to GB News and Portuguese outlet Record, Ronaldo personally reached out to Jota’s parents and Rute Cardoso, assuring them of his ongoing support, stating he wanted to avoid turning the funeral into a “media circus.” A July 9 report from Só Notícia Boa claimed Ronaldo committed to covering the education and well-being expenses of Jota’s children until adulthood, a gesture echoed by X posts like @riffflawyer’s, which praised Ronaldo for funding healthcare and education.

However, a community note on an X post by @arielipillo, claiming Ronaldo pledged lifelong support, flagged the information as unverified, noting that the cited source, A Bola, made no mention of a specific financial commitment like 10 million euros. Other X posts, such as those from @EltrinoCo and @TeamCRonaldo, reiterated Ronaldo’s private assurances to the family, but none quantified the support as 10 million euros. Major outlets like The Daily Mail and VnExpress International confirm Jota’s estate, estimated at £35 million, will provide financial security for Rute and their children, alongside a potential £14.5 million payout from Liverpool for the remaining two years of Jota’s contract, though this is unconfirmed. No reports explicitly link Ronaldo to a direct 10 million euro transfer.

The plot twist lies in Ronaldo’s quieter, unpublicized actions. A Mirror report on July 12 suggested Ronaldo’s support extended beyond words, with sources claiming he was coordinating with Liverpool to fund a scholarship in Jota’s name for underprivileged youth in Porto, though details remain vague. This aligns with his emotional Instagram tribute on July 3, where he wrote, “It doesn’t make sense. We were just together in the national team, and you had just gotten married. To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world.” Fans on X, under hashtags like #CR7 and #DiogoJota, praised his discretion, with posts like, “Cristiano’s helping Jota’s kids quietly—class act,” while others speculated the 10 million euro figure was exaggerated for attention.

The lack of concrete evidence for a 10 million euro donation suggests the claim may stem from unverified social media buzz or misinterpretations of Ronaldo’s broader commitment. Jota’s family is already set to inherit significant wealth, with earnings from his £140,000-per-week Liverpool contract and a £2.152 million home in Blundellsands. Ronaldo’s gestures, like his reported calls to Rute and Jota’s parents, reflect personal loyalty, but the 10 million euro figure remains unconfirmed. As the football world mourns Jota, whose number 20 jersey was retired by Liverpool, Ronaldo’s support—whether financial or emotional—continues to resonate, proving his heart extends beyond the pitch, even if the exact sum remains a mystery