Just days after celebrating his wedding, Portuguese football star Diogo Jota was laid to rest alongside his younger brother, André Silva, in a deeply emotional ceremony held in their hometown of Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto.
The 28-year-old Liverpool and Portugal forward had married his longtime partner Rute Cardoso on June 22.
Tragically, just hours after sharing a joyful wedding video on Instagram, Jota and his 25-year-old brother lost their lives in a horrific car crash in northwestern Spain.
Their vehicle reportedly veered off the motorway and caught fire.
The funeral service began at 0900 GMT on Saturday, July 5, at the Mother Church of Gondomar, where crowds of mourners gathered to pay their respects.
The ceremony was led by the Bishop of Porto, according to local reports.
On Friday, the community came together for a public wake, where hundreds queued outside the chapel and cemetery.
Among the first to pay tribute were the brothers’ parents and grandfather—who had to be helped into the chapel due to the emotional toll.
Photos from the funeral captured a somber scene: Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, was seen following the coffin, supported by her sister. Former teammates served as pallbearers, while one attendee held a framed portrait of André Silva.
Others stood in silence behind the cemetery gates, many visibly overcome with emotion.
The tragedy brought together a wide array of figures from the world of football and politics.
Those in attendance included Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, Jota’s agent Jorge Mendes, and Porto club president André Villas-Boas.
“Football is truly in mourning,” said Pedro Proenca, head of the Portuguese Football Federation. “Diogo was an icon of the talent Portuguese football represents.”
As the service concluded, Jota’s former teammates stepped solemnly out of the church, united in grief. The footballing world, along with Jota’s hometown, continues to reel from the shock of losing one of its brightest stars so suddenly.
Jota is survived by his wife and their three children.
