The sudden, tragic death of Diogo Jota, 28, Liverpool and Portugal forward, alongside his younger brother André Silva, 25, in a car accident on 3 July 2025, has sent shockwaves through the global football community.
The funeral, held July 5, in Gondomar, Portugal, was the culmination of a national and international period of mourning. The ceremony was a deeply emotional and solemn event, celebrating Jota’s life, career, and the profound mark he left on all who knew and admired him. The accident occurred on Spain’s A-52 highway as the brothers were reportedly en route to catch a ferry to England.
Liverpool FC reportedly chartered a flight to bring players and staff to the funeral. Most of Diogo’s current and former teammates were expected to attend. tributes continued from teammates who remembered Jota not only as a remarkable footballer but also as a devoted husband, father, and friend.
They were among the first to respond, describing Jota’s passing as an “unimaginable loss” and postponing their pre-season training. Manager Arne Slot remarked, “Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us… He will never be forgotten.”
Teammates, including Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, and Jordan Henderson, laid flowers at a shrine outside Anfield Stadium, Liverpool. Van Dijk posted on social media: “Man, I can’t believe it… Absolutely devastated… A champion forever, No. 20 forever.”
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp added: “Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father. This is a moment where I struggle.”
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) declared a national period of mourning, suspending all sporting events. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro both attended the wake. They met with the family and issued formal statements of condolence.
“Portugal today buries not only two sons, but also two symbols of joy and effort. We grieve with the family, and we honor what they gave to the country,” the President said.
The president of Portugal’s Assembly (parliament), José Aguiar Branco, announced, on June 3, a vote on a motion of condolence to honor the two brothers and recognize their legacy in national sport.
“Tomorrow in the Assembly of the Republic, we will vote on the motion of condolence that I will present in order to honour the memory of these two young people and also the legacy that they leave to national sport,” he pronounced.
The parliamentary motion also made Diogo Jota and André Silva official subjects of national condolence, [Voto de Pesar], a rare mark of respect from Portugal’s legislative body.
Internationally, UEFA, FIFA, and other football governing bodies ordered flags flown at half-mast and moments of silence observed at international matches. A moment of silence was observed before Portugal’s opening match at UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 against Spain, and throughout that tournament. Players wore black armbands, and fans held up signs and applause in Jota’s memory.
FIFA organized tributes at the Club World Cup quarter-finals in Orlando and Philadelphia, including minutes of silence before matches and images displayed on video boards. Players and fans observed moments of silence to honor the brothers.
Across the world, thousands of fans paid tribute online and in person. Vigils and memorials were held in Liverpool, Porto, and Jota’s hometown of Gondomar, where a public wake took place on Friday, July 4, at the Capela da Ressurreição de São Cosme.
Hundreds gathered throughout the day to pay their respects, applauding as the hearses arrived. The wake was opened to the public, with mourners leaving flowers, signing condolence books, and hearing church bells toll in remembrance.
The funeral for Diogo Jota and André Silva was held on Saturday, July 5, at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar. Bishop Manuel Linda of the Diocese of Porto officiated the ceremony.
The bishop addressed the three young children—Dinis, Mafalda, and Duarte—who were not present. He said, “The ones who suffer the most are your mother and your grandparents. Seeing the mortal remains of a child must be a greater torment, but when there are two urns, there are no words. But there are feelings. We are here to say that we also suffered a lot.”
Among the attendees were Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso, and numerous teammates from Liverpool and the Portuguese national team. “The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honored Portugal’s name, and his brother is unexpected and tragic. I extend my deepest condolences to their family. It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports,” the Prime Minister remarked.
In an unprecedented gesture, Wimbledon broke its 148-year tradition of all-white attire, permitting players—including Portugal’s Francisco Cabral—to wear black armbands in Jota’s honor. The symbolic act highlighted how Jota’s legacy extended beyond football into the broader world of sport.
Diogo Jota is being remembered not only as a gifted athlete, known for his technical brilliance, but also as a man of humility, kindness, and deep love for his family. As Liverpool FC’s tribute concluded: “Forever in our hearts, Diogo. You’ll never walk alone.”
Diogo Jota, 28, was born in Porto in December and raised in a working-class household in Gondomar alongside his younger brother, André Filipe Teixeira da Silva. Diogo married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso, on 22 June 2025, just 11 days before the crash, and they had three young children. André, aged 25, was also a professional footballer, having played in Portugal’s second tier with Penafiel.
Carolina Matos/Editor with PAJ/Staff/ Revised and updated
Quotes by Diogo Jota (1996-2025)
“The hard thing is not to reach the top of the mountain but to stay there. That phrase makes a lot of sense, certainly to me. … You can never let them have more will than you.”
“The first step to achieve something is to believe.”
“In Portugal, they used to say the hardest thing is not to arrive but to stay there. So that of course, is my target. Now that I have achieved a move to Liverpool, I want to be a big influence in this club and that’s what I try to do every day.”
“Sometimes things just happen naturally.”
“I remember when I was maybe around six years old, my dad signed me up for swimming. I’d ask him, crying, whether I could switch to play football instead.”
“When I’m fit, I know I’ll give my best in each training session to give myself a chance of playing.”
“I was always the smallest guy on the pitch, that’s never affected me, I’m used to it.”
“It’s even harder when you need to suffer as a fan and you can do literally nothing to help the team on the field.”
