Diogo Jota’s distraught household joined by footballing stars for heart-wrenching funeral days after automobile crash | EUROtoday

On Jul 5, 2025

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.

The devastated household and pals of Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva gathered for a transferring funeral on Saturday, two days after their tragic deaths in a automobile crash in Spain.

Dozens of stars and high-profile figures from throughout the footballing world arrived for a sombre service in Gondomar, close to Porto, tears flowing as they bade goodbye to the brothers. The service came about in the identical church the place Jota was married simply 13 days earlier.

Jota, 28, a father of three, died alongside Silva, 25, when their Lamborghini flew off the aspect of the A-52 street in northwestern Spain and erupted in flames on Thursday following a suspected tyre blowout.

Ruben Neves carries the coffin out of the church alongside Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso — Ruben Neves carries the coffin out of the church alongside Jota’s spouse, Rute Cardoso (Reuters)

Footballing stars, legends and brokers joined Jota’s visibly devastated household and his spouse, Rute Cardoso, for the service. Ms Cardoso reduce a distraught determine, weeping as she adopted behind her late husband’s coffin because it was carried into the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and left-back Andy Robertson arrived with soccer shirt-shaped wreaths with Jota’s No 20 on the again, adopted carefully by supervisor Arne Slot and different gamers from the membership, together with Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez. Former gamers Jordan Henderson and James Milner additionally attended.

Premier League stars, together with Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City, Joao Felix and Renato Veiga of Chelsea, Nelson Semedo from Wolves, and former Liverpool gamers Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara additionally joined for the service.

Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool's player Andrew Robertson arrive at the funeral — Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool’s participant Andrew Robertson arrive on the funeral (Reuters)

Diogo Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso (right) and her sister react as pallbearers carry the coffin — Diogo Jota’s spouse Rute Cardoso (proper) and her sister react as pallbearers carry the coffin (AFP by way of Getty)

Ruben Neves, considered one of Jota’s closest pals with whom he performed for each Wolves and Portugal, acted as a pallbearer for his coffin after flying in from Florida, the place he had performed a Club World Cup match the night time earlier than. Along together with his Portuguese teammate Joao Cancelo, Neves was seen sobbing throughout a second’s silence earlier than Friday’s recreation.

After the service got here to an finish, “Ave Maria” was performed on the loudspeakers as funeralgoers spilt out of the church, embracing tearfully. The coffins have been carried out of the church, Ms Cardoso serving to elevate Jota’s casket, leaning her head on it because the procession moved away.

Also in attendance have been Porto president Andre Villas-Boas, Portugal supervisor Roberto Martinez, and former Portugal supervisor Fernando Santos.

Liverpool’s Joe Gomez and Arne Slot arrive (PA)

“They are [have been] really sad days, as you can imagine, but today we have shown we are a very large, but close family,” Martinez instructed media exterior the church, in a brief interview broadcast on Sky Sports News.

“We are Portugal, and it was essential for us that [with] Andre Silva and Diogo Jota, we are together and we will always be together, and their spirit will be with us forever.

“Thank you very much for your messages, for your support and everything that we have received all over the world. It means a lot, and today we are all one football family.”

Jota’s former Liverpool teammate James Milner was visibly emotional following the funeral (PA)

Silva instructed Portuguese broadcaster TVI: “I can’t even imagine the pain of the family, of Rute, of the children, of the parents.

“Jota will remain in our hearts forever. He will always be present at all breakfasts, lunches, dinners, national team gatherings, PlayStation or card games.

“It is a very tough episode for all of us, because we spent a lot of time together. The memories I have with him are fantastic. These happy memories will remain; he will be present in every victory.”

Diogo Jota and Andre Silva’s death came as a huge shock to the footballing world — Diogo Jota and Andre Silva’s dying got here as an enormous shock to the footballing world (Getty)

The crash occurred after a tyre blowout whereas the automobile was overtaking one other, Spain’s Civil Guard stated on Thursday.

The automobile, reported to be a Lamborghini, left the aspect of the street and erupted in flames. It is unknown which brother was driving.

Jota was returning to the UK to hitch pre-season coaching with Liverpool, after present process a minor operation in Portugal. Due to his latest surgical procedure, he had reportedly been suggested to take the ferry fairly than journey by aircraft.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/diogo-jota-funeral-andre-silva-car-crash-liverpool-b2783245.html