Celtic winger Jota says he feels stronger after spending 18 months away from soccer with a serious knee injury. The 27-year-old Portuguese player returned to action at Celtic Park on Sunday, coming on at halftime as Celtic beat Hearts 7-1. He suffered the injury in April 2025, when Celtic secured the league title at Tannadice.
His recovery was difficult, and he faced emotional struggles along the way. However, Jota says the experience helped him understand himself better and appreciate things he had not valued enough before. He feels grateful to work in soccer and recognizes that other people face greater difficulties. Rather than describing his absence as lost time, he believes it helped him grow.
Jota says his love of soccer gave him the motivation to keep working, even when his recovery was not going well. His aim was to return healthy, without rushing the process, because he believes he still has a long career ahead. Now, every opportunity to train or play has special meaning for him.
