The funeral service of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva is underway in Gondomar, located near the city of Porto, Portugal as close relatives, friends, and prominent figures from the football world gathered in solemn observance on Saturday.
Jota, 28, and Silva, 25, died in a tragic car accident on Thursday when their vehicle reportedly veered off a motorway in northwestern Spain and was engulfed in flames.
The incident occurred just a week after the Portuguese international wedded.
The funeral, which began at 0900 GMT and local media reports that the service was officiated by the Bishop of Porto.
On Friday, thousands attended a wake held for the brothers, offering their condolences. Among those present were a childhood friend, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, Jota’s agent Jorge Mendes, and Porto club president Andre Villas-Boas.
“Football is truly in mourning. Diogo was an icon of the talent Portuguese football represents,” stated Pedro Proenca, head of the football federation, reflecting the widespread grief.
During Friday’s wake, immediate family members, including the brothers’ parents, were among the first to pay their respects.
The grandfather was notably seen being supported by two individuals as he entered the chapel. Mourners arrived carrying floral tributes, with some audibly weeping before the wake was opened to the wider public.
The untimely deaths of the Portuguese international and his brother evoked a powerful outpouring of emotion across the football community and beyond.
Liverpool Football Club responded by opening a book of condolences and lowering flags at Anfield to half-mast.
Thousands of devoted supporters created a poignant memorial outside the stadium, leaving a sea of flowers, balloons, Jota shirts, and scarves bearing messages such as “Rest in peace Diogo Jota.”
At the Diogo Jota football academy, situated near Gondomar SC where the former Porto and Atletico Madrid player began his career, well-wishers established a memorial adorned with flowers, scarves, candles, and shirts.
Aside from tributes from lovers, managers among others, Jota was also honored at the Club World Cup in the United States on Friday.
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A one-minute silence was observed during the quarter-final match between Brazil’s Fluminense and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in Orlando.
Portuguese and UK media reported that Jota was en route to the northern Spanish port of Santander to catch a ferry to England, where Liverpool’s pre-season training was slated to begin on Friday.
This travel choice was reportedly made on medical advice, following a recent lung operation, to avoid air travel.
Diogo Jota married his partner, Rute Cardoso, on June 22, and had posted a video of their wedding on Instagram just hours before the tragic accident.
Jota was survived by three children.
