Liverpool players join family for Diogo Jota and his brother’s funeral

Teammates Lead with Red Wreaths

• Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, manager Arne Slot, and other teammates carried red floral wreaths shaped like shirts into the chapel—number 20 for Jota and 30 for his brother—joining the immediate family in a dignified, silent procession.
• Andy Robertson and other teammates also participated, underscoring the collective grief and solidarity from the club.

A Private Ceremony, Huge Public Presence

• The funeral was a private service led by Bishop Manuel Linda at Igreja Matriz in Gondomar, attended by family, close friends, and teammates.
• Hundreds of local residents gathered outside, offering applause and laying flowers—a tribute to Jota’s impact on his hometown. liverpool

Emotional Tributes and Close Bonds

• A heartfelt minute’s silence took place earlier at the Club World Cup match, where former teammates and friends like Rúben Neves and João Cancelo were visibly moved.
• Neves, who served as a pallbearer, posted a poignant tribute, calling Jota “more than a friend, we’re family” and vowing never to forget him .

Legacy and Grief Amidst Mourning

• Diogo Jota, 28, and André Silva, 25, tragically died in a fiery car crash in Spain while en route to catch a ferry back to Britain.
• Their passing sent shockwaves through football, triggering global condolences including from Premier League clubs, national team colleagues, and heads of state

Final Moments and Aftermath

• Rute Cardoso, Jota’s wife—married just weeks before the tragedy—was comforted by teammates and family during the ceremony.
• Inside the chapel, bowed heads and the silence of Liverpool’s players in black attire conveyed deep respect; outside, applause and floral tributes created an atmosphere of communal mourning.

This funeral united football’s tight-knit global family—Liverpool players, Portugal internationals, teammates past and present—standing alongside Jota’s loved ones at a time of profound loss. Their presence and solemn tribute with red wreaths symbolized not just a club’s support, but a human, heartfelt farewell to a beloved teammate and friend.