Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother were laid to rest on Saturday in their hometown, just days after the pair died in a car crash that shocked the football world.
A quiet sadness filled the air as family, friends, and football figures gathered at the Mother Church of Gondomar, just outside Porto, to say goodbye to Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva.
The two brothers tragically lost their lives on July 3, 2025, when their vehicle crashed and caught fire on a motorway in northern Spain. The crash came just days after Jota’s recent wedding to longtime partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children.
Only hours before the fatal crash, Jota had shared a joyful video of their wedding celebration, held on June 22.
At the funeral, Liverpool teammates Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson were among the first to arrive. Van Dijk brought a red floral wreath shaped like a Liverpool jersey with Jota’s number 20 on it.
Other players and staff including Darwin Nunez and head coach Arne Slot had already met with the family during a private wake on Friday evening.
Prominent figures in Portuguese football also paid their respects. Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Danilo Pereira, and Joao Felix attended, along with national team coach Roberto Martinez. Although Cristiano Ronaldo was not present, the support from the national team was strong.
Jota’s connection to Gondomar ran deep. A makeshift memorial was created at his football academy near Gondomar SC, where he started his career. It was filled with scarves, candles, and handwritten notes from fans and children. One message read, “Thank you, Diogo Jota.”
Pedro Neves, a former school friend, noted, “He will be remembered as someone who was very friendly, very courteous, who loved everyone, who always had a smile on his face.”
Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp, who signed Jota to the club in 2020, shared his sorrow, saying he was “heartbroken.” Arne Slot said the club must now come together and support one another during this painful time.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, and Jota’s agent Jorge Mendes were also present. Porto club president Andre Villas-Boas, whose club Jota once played for, attended as well.
The ceremony was led by the bishop of Porto. Mourners filled the church, many crying as Rute Cardoso followed the coffin of her late husband.
