The funeral of Liverpool and Portuguese international Diogo Jota, who tragically died alongside his brother André Silva after a car accident on Thursday morning, was held in his hometown of Gondomar, Portugal, today.
The brothers were driving to the Spanish city of Santander to catch the ferry to England, after Jota was advised not to travel by plane following lung surgery.
The funeral ceremony, which began with the "Our Father" prayer, took place in the Parish Church of Gondomar and was led by the Bishop of Porto, Dom Manuel Linda.
He delivered a touching tribute, addressing in particular Jota's three children – Dinis, Mafalda and Duarte – and their grieving mother, Rute Cardoso.
"It's hard to see an adult crying, but it's even harder to see a child. We are with you, but Jesus is also with you," the Bishop said.
Rute, Jota's wife, dressed all in white and holding a cream rose, was one of the most touching figures during the ceremony.
She placed her hand on her husband's coffin, while those present were overcome by deep emotions, in complete silence.
Only family and close friends were allowed inside the church, while for thousands of attendees outside, the service was broadcast live by audio.
The funeral was attended by big names from Portuguese and international football. Liverpool were represented by captain Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones, Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott and manager Arne Slot. Van Dijk wore a wreath in the shape of his number 20 shirt – in honour of Jota – while Robertson wore a red number 30 shirt for André Silva.
Also present were former Liverpool players Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Fabinho and Thiago Alcântara. The Portuguese camp included Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, as well as Ruben Neves, who flew in from the US after Al-Hilal's Club World Cup match to carry the coffin of his close friend. Also present was former Wolves team-mate Nelson Semedo.
Despite reports that he was seen in the Mediterranean, Cristiano Ronaldo was not present at the funeral, which was confirmed by the Portuguese Football Federation. However, he expressed his condolences in a touching post on social media:
"It doesn't make sense. We were just together in the National Team, you just got married. My condolences to your family, your wife and children. Diogo and André, we will miss you very much."
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker was unable to attend due to commitments with the Brazilian national team, but posted a touching tribute on Instagram, writing:
"Once again, an ocean separates me from a farewell. But I know I was represented worthily by my teammates. I will remember Diogo as a great friend, father and husband."
After the mass, which lasted about an hour, the coffins were escorted to the cemetery next to the church, surrounded by olive trees, where they rested forever. The sounds of “Ave Maria” could be heard in the background, while those present cried and hugged each other during the procession.
The large crowd outside the church greeted them with applause, a silent tribute to the life and memory of the two brothers.
A memorial mass (seventh mass) will be held on Wednesday, July 9, at 21:00 p.m., in the same church, where family members will gather to share memories and pray for Diogo and André.
Liverpool have announced they will pay out Jota's remaining contract - around two more years - in his honour and to support his family. The club have also permanently retired his number 20 shirt.
The tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva have shocked not only the Portuguese community, but also the entire football world. The messages of condolence, tears and tributes testify to the deep respect that both enjoyed as athletes and as people. They will always be remembered with love and pride./Express newspaper/
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