Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva died in a car crash in Spain.
A deep sense of sorrow hung over Gondomar, Portugal, as hundreds of mourners gathered to say goodbye to Diogo Jota, 28, and his younger brother André Silva. The two died tragically in a car crash in Spain on Thursday.
Outside the church, people lined the streets, silent and grieving. Among them were Jota’s Liverpool teammates, like Jordan Henderson, football officials, and dignitaries from Portugal.
As the coffins left the church, the soft sound of “Ave Maria” played, followed by a ringing church bell. People clapped quietly as a show of love and respect, watching the procession head to the burial site.
The crash happened when their Lamborghini veered off a road and caught fire. Spanish police suspect a tyre burst during an overtaking attempt. The two were travelling to catch a ferry to the UK, as Jota had been advised not to fly after lung surgery due to a fractured rib.
Jota had recently married his longtime girlfriend Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children. They had been together since high school. Jota’s journey in football began early, rising from local youth teams to playing for Atlético Madrid and later becoming a Liverpool FC forward.
On Friday, a wake drew high-profile figures including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, Porto President André Villas-Boas, and Portuguese Football Federation chief Pedro Proença.
“Diogo was a silent hero, humble yet brilliant,” said Villas-Boas.
In Liverpool, fans placed flowers, scarves, and handwritten messages outside Anfield Stadium. One touching message came from Mohamed Salah, who wrote:
“Teammates come and go, but not like this. It’s hard to imagine returning without Diogo.”
At the Diogo Jota Academy, founded in 2022 to support young footballers, students and locals left candles, Portugal flags, and jerseys to honour his memory. The academy’s powerful motto, “It’s not important where we come from, but where we are going,” now holds an even deeper meaning.
Top clubs like PSG, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid observed moments of silence during training. At the Club World Cup in the U.S., players held brief tributes before kick-off to honour both Jota and André.
As the town of Gondomar continues to mourn, Liverpool coach Arne Slot’s words captured the world’s shared grief:
“You will never walk alone.”
