By M10News Sports Desk | Compiled July 6, 2025 | Source: Metro UK, Record Portugal
Liverpool players, staff and football stars from across Europe gathered in Gondomar, Portugal, on Saturday to pay their final respects to Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, following their tragic deaths in a car accident earlier this week.
The 28-year-old Liverpool forward and his younger brother were killed in the early hours of Thursday morning when their Lamborghini crashed in Zamora, in northwestern Spain. The brothers were reportedly en route to board a ferry to England when the fatal incident occurred.
On Friday, hundreds attended a wake in Gondomar, Jota’s hometown near Porto, ahead of the funeral held this morning at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church, located approximately 16 kilometres inland from Porto.
A delegation of Liverpool players and club officials arrived at the church, with Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson carrying floral wreaths for their fallen teammate.
Darwin Núñez, Thiago Alcântara, and Fabinho also attended, alongside Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, representing Portugal’s national team contingent.
The sombre ceremony began shortly after 10 a.m. as two coffins carrying the brothers arrived at the church. Emotional scenes followed, with family members, teammates, and supporters paying tribute.
Although Liverpool did not confirm travel arrangements, local reports suggest the club chartered a flight to Portugal on Friday to allow players to attend the funeral.
Many squad members, currently on summer break, have postponed their return to Merseyside for pre-season training.
Salah’s Heartfelt Tribute
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah expressed his devastation at the loss, admitting the tragedy had left him frightened to return to the club’s training ground.
“Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me about going back to Liverpool after the break,” Salah shared on social media.
“Teammates come and go, but not like this. It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there when we return.”
Salah extended his condolences to Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso—who married the footballer just 11 days before his death—their three young children, and the entire Jota family.
“Those close to Diogo and his brother André need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten,” he added.
Liverpool’s Gesture to Jota’s Family
According to Portuguese outlet Record, Liverpool have made an extraordinary gesture to support Jota’s family. The club has reportedly decided to retire his iconic No. 20 shirt and pay out the remaining two years of his contract in full to his widow and children.
Jota, who joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 for £45 million, made 167 appearances over five seasons, becoming a key figure under manager Jürgen Klopp.
Tributes Worldwide
The football community continues to mourn Jota’s passing, with minute silences observed at matches around the globe.
Portugal’s women’s national team linked arms in tribute before their European Championship opener, while Club World Cup fixtures in the United States saw visibly emotional players, including Pedro Neto, João Cancelo, and Rúben Neves, paying respects.
Beyond football, tributes extended to the entertainment world. British rock band Oasis, during their reunion tour in Cardiff on Friday, honoured Jota by displaying his image on screen during their classic hit Live Forever.
The tragedy has left the football world in shock, as players, fans, and clubs unite to honour the memory of Diogo Jota and his brother André.
