Diogo Jota’s grieving widow, family and Liverpool teammates gathered in Portugal on Saturday as the footballer was laid to rest following his tragic death in a car crash.
Rute Cardoso, who married the 28-year-old less than a month ago, was visibly distraught as she walked with mourners through the streets of Gondomar, the hometown of Jota and his brother André Silva, 25, who also died in the accident.
Heartbreaking scenes unfolded this morning as the brothers' coffins were carried into the church ahead of the service, which began at 10am local time. Several mourners were seen crying openly, with some needing to be physically supported by others.
Attendance inside the church was limited to close friends, family, and teammates, but thousands more lined the streets outside, where a livestream with audio of the service, led by the Bishop of Porto, was played.
Several current Liverpool stars touched down in Jota’s hometown on Friday to pay respects. Players including Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Federico Chiesa, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and manager Arne Slot were applauded by local mourners as they walked through the streets to visit the Chapel of the Resurrection, where the bodies of Jota and his brother lay at rest overnight.
A handful of former Liverpool teammates also made the emotional trip, among them Brighton’s James Milner and Ajax’s Jordan Henderson. Henderson, who captained Jota following the forward’s arrival at Anfield in September 2020, had earlier paid tribute during a tearful return to Anfield before jetting to Portugal.
Henderson had been left devastated by the news, the pair having quickly formed a close friendship during their time together on Merseyside.
Other Premier League stars paying tribute include Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot and Nottingham Forest’s Jota Silva, all of whom have arrived ahead of today’s service.
On Friday night, aerial footage captured long queues of mourners stretching from the small chapel to the nearby church where today’s funeral service will be held.
Many sobbed openly while clutching roses and national team scarves in homage to Jota, who had celebrated Portugal’s UEFA Nations League victory less than a month ago.
Family members, including Jota’s parents Isabel and Joaquim, were seen comforting one another at a vigil held beside the coffins of the footballer and his brother. Joaquim hugged friends and family, later raising a hand to acknowledge mourners as he departed alongside his wife, before returning around an hour later.
Jota’s wife Rute had previously travelled with his body from Spain back to Gondomar on Thursday. The city, which overlooks Porto, is where the couple met as teenagers and began their relationship. They share three young children.
Local priest Father Macedo said: "We’re available to celebrate [their life] with everyone and to share the pain and the Christian hope."
