Ahead of Chelsea's Club World Cup match against Palmeiras, Pedro Neto took to the pitch not just as a player but also as a grieving friend. Accompanied by his teammates, he held up a Chelsea shirt emblazoned with the names "Diogo" and "Andre" - in tribute to the two footballer brothers who tragically died in a car crash on Thursday.
Before kick-off, Chelsea players stood together at the midfield line. Neto and Enzo Fernandez held up their personalised jerseys, while the rest of the team stood shoulder to shoulder, heads bowed in silence. A moment of reflection and respect was held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The gesture was part of a series of tributes that also included artists such as Oasis, as well as sports stars such as LeBron James and Mohamed Salah.
During the ceremony, the stadium dimmed its lights and displayed a touching photo of Diogo Jota and Andreu together during their early careers at Paço. de Ferreira. Palmeiras players also stood in a line to honor the two Portuguese stars.
Neto's bond with Jota was so deep that Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was prepared to exclude him from the match due to his emotional state. The pair had grown up in the same footballing system and had played together for Wolves and the Portugal national team, where they had recently won the UEFA Nations League together.
Maresca described Neto as "very sad, maybe more than that" and revealed that he had not attended training after receiving the news. "We will support him in any case. Whether he plays tomorrow or not, we will be by his side," Maresca said.
The funeral for Diogo Jota and Andre Silva is scheduled to be held on Saturday.
The President of the Portuguese Football Federation, Pedro Proença, and the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, were present at the tributes for the two deceased footballers.
The Portuguese Football Federation was one of many institutions in the world of sports that expressed its condolences through a touching message:
"We have lost two champions. Their deaths constitute an irreparable loss for Portuguese football, and we will do everything in our power to honor their legacy every day."
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