Diogo Jota funeral latest: Liverpool stars join footballer’s wife to pay tribute at emotional service | OneFootball

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Family and teammates carry coffins of Diogo Jota and his brother into funeral chapel

Distraught family, friends and teammates of Liverpool star Diogo Jota have gathered for his funeral after he died in a car crash in Spain.

The father-of-three died alongside his brother, Andre Silva, after their Lamborghini burst into flames following a tyre blowout in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The mood was sombre as dozens of stars from the Liverpool and Portugal national teams arrived at the Capela da Ressurreicao, where just 11 days ago Jota had married his wife, Rute Cardoso.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and left-back Andy Robertson carried football shirt-shaped wreaths with Jota’s Number 20 on the back, followed closely by manager Arne Slot and other players from the club.

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United, Joao Felix of Chelsea, and Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City, were among the other footballing stars, legends, agents and media figures also pictured.

As the funeral bells rang out, family and friends carried and followed the two coffins into the Capela da Ressurreicao in heart-rending scenes.

Diogo Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso, who he married just weeks ago. She was held closely by another woman as she followed behind her husband’s coffin, one hand rested on top.

The funeral began at 10am and the sound is being broadcast to the hundreds of reporters and mourners outside the church.

Diogo Jota: The fan favourite who achieved more than he ever dreamed possible

The caption is more poignant now, even as the words have proved horribly wrong. “Yes to forever,” wrote Diogo Jota, accompanying social-media pictures of his wedding to his long-time partner Rute Cardoso. Within two weeks, Jota’s forever had ended, the Liverpool and Portugal forward killed in a car crash in Spain, along with his brother Andre Silva. His new wife is already a widow, his three young children left without a father.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Cristiano Ronaldo, his Portugal captain. There is a feeling of shock whenever a life is suddenly cruelly cut short, and Jota was just 28. It is still greater when someone has seemed as full of life as Jota did. He was often a smiling figure; “someone with an infectious joy,” Pedro Proenca, head of the Portuguese Football Federation, said. He was popular wherever he went. “Diogo was adored by our fans, loved by his teammates and cherished by everyone who worked with him during his time at Wolves,” his previous club said. Wolves described themselves as “heartbroken”, Liverpool as “devastated”.

Richard Jolly writes:

Alex Croft5 July 2025 14:02

Jota's teammate and close friend Ruben Neves acts as pallbearer

Among the pallbearers at Diogo Jota and Andre Silva’s funeral today was Ruben Neves, one of his teammates for both club and country.

Neves flew to Portugal from Florida overnight, where he played a Club World Cup match for Al Hilal. Along with his Portuguese teammate Joao Cancelo he was seen sobbing during a moment’s silence before the game.

Jota and Neves played together since they were young, both representing the Portugal national team at youth level.

Neves, on the right in the black t-shirt, helps carry Jota’s coffin into the church (AFP via Getty Images)

They joined Wolves at the same time in 2017, both establishing themselves as exciting young players in the Premier League, and developing a close bond during the three years they played together.

“You know what you mean to me as much as I know what I mean to you,” Neves wrote in his tribute to Jota on Friday. “More than a friendship, we're family, and we won't stop being that just because you've decided to sign a contract a little further away from us.”

He said he would “make sure that your loved ones never lack anything while you're there, far away but thinking of us, waiting for us”.

Neves carries the coffin out of the church alongside Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso (REUTERS)

5 July 2025 11:35