Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal Honour Victims of Venezuela’s Double Earthquake Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Against Colombia (Watch Video)
The tribute responds to a major humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, where two powerful earthquakes struck in quick succession on 24 June 2026.
Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal national football team paused their tournament routines on Friday to pay tribute to the victims of the devastating double earthquake that recently struck Venezuela. Prior to starting their training session, the entire squad observed a minute of silence on the pitch. A video capturing the moment has circulated widely on social media platforms, drawing praise for the team's demonstration of international solidarity. Heartwarming Video of Father Helping Visually Impaired Son 'See' Cristiano Ronaldo’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Goal Goes Viral.
Class Act From Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo, solidario con Venezuela 🇻🇪
CR7 y sus compañeros de Portugal guardaron un minuto de silencio por las víctimas del doble terremoto en ese país 🫶
Los lusitanos se alistan en Miami para enfrentar a Colombia en el Mundial 🇵🇹🇨🇴}#beINSPORTS #beINWC26… pic.twitter.com/VPQgOa464Z
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) June 27, 2026
The tribute took place just as the squad assembled for training ahead of their final FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K fixture against Colombia. Head coach Roberto Martinez and his 26-man squad stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the center circle to honour those affected by the seismic disaster.
The gesture follows public statements from within the Portuguese camp. Chelsea winger Pedro Neto also expressed deep sympathy during a pre-match press conference, interrupting regular sporting talk to convey words of support and comfort directly to the Venezuelan populace. FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule Today (June 28): Timings in IST, Venues, Groups.
Severe Disruption in South America
The tribute responds to a major humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, where two powerful earthquakes struck in quick succession on 24 June 2026. The disaster has caused widespread destruction across the capital city of Caracas and surrounding regions, resulting in at least 164 fatalities and leaving more than 700 people injured.
The crisis holds a close connection for Portugal, which maintains a sizeable expatriate community in Venezuela. The Portuguese government has activated emergency assistance channels through its consulates in Caracas and Valencia to support nationals caught up in the devastation. FIFA World Cup 2026 Points Table: Group Standings Updated.
Shifting Focus Back to Group K
Following the solemn tribute, Portugal resumed high-intensity drills to complete their match preparations. Ronaldo, who recently became the first player in football history to score in six different FIFA World Cups, trained in a newly launched all-gold pair of signature boots to mark his achievement.
Portugal enters the clash against Colombia in strong form, having secured a dominant 5-5 win against Uzbekistan earlier in the group stage. The upcoming fixture will determine the final standings and knockout phase seedings for Group K.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2026 01:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
