Marc Cucurella Believes It Is His ‘Destiny’ to Score in the Club World Cup Amidst Tragic Loss of Diogo Jota

Marc Cucurella has expressed his belief that it is his ‘destiny’ to score in the upcoming Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras, as a tribute to his late Portugal teammate, Diogo Jota.

The match is scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia, with Chelsea aiming to advance further in the tournament. The fixture comes just a day after the heartbreaking news of Jota’s passing following a car accident involving his family.

Despite uncertainties about whether Pedro Neto will feature, Cucurella highlighted the importance of Neto’s well-being. Speaking at Lincoln Financial Field, he shared, “I think Neto is in good form. It’s a long day ahead, and the decision is up to him and the manager, but I believe Pedro can help us in this game.”

Cucurella also revealed that he told Neto he believes it’s his fate to score, especially in such a meaningful context. “If he plays, I told him he will score because that is destiny. We want to honor Diogo Jota, and if he scores, it will be a tribute to our friend,” he said.

He further emphasized that football is secondary during such difficult moments, saying, “Our priority is to show love and respect. All our thoughts are with Diogo’s family, including his wife and children. Football is not important right now—what matters is expressing our support and compassion.”

Reflecting on the tragic passing, Cucurella stated, “These events remind us that life is fragile. It’s crucial to cherish every moment and live happily, especially during tough times like this.”

About the Match

Chelsea, who have seen Neto score three goals in three Club World Cup appearances, will look to beat Palmeiras to reach the semi-final against either Fluminense or Al-Hilal.