Diogo Jota Funeral Updates: Liverpool Stars Join Family for Emotional Service in Gondomar

The family of Liverpool striker Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva are preparing for an emotional funeral service in Gondomar, near Porto, Portugal. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, following a wake held the night before.

Many of Jota’s Liverpool teammates, Premier League stars, and club officials will be there to support the family. Thousands of fans are also expected to attend to pay their respects. Former Liverpool players Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho, along with Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, will be present. All had paid tribute to the brothers on Friday.

Diogo Jota and Andre Silva died tragically in a car crash near Zamora, on the border between Spain and Portugal, just days after Jota’s wedding to his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso. The crash shocked the football world, as Jota had recently shared joyful moments of their wedding and family life on social media.

Rute Cardoso had the painful task of identifying her husband and his brother after the accident. The couple had been together since their teenage years and have three young children — two boys and a girl.

On Friday, hundreds gathered at the Capela da Ressurreicao for the wake. Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports CEO Michael Edwards led the Liverpool delegation.

Portuguese footballers Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo showed their grief as well. Neves broke down in tears during a moment of silence before Al Hilal’s FIFA Club World Cup game. He shared a heartfelt message on social media, calling Jota not just a friend but family, promising to keep his memory alive and support his loved ones.

Jota’s marriage to Rute just days before his death makes the loss even harder to accept. The couple had shared beautiful wedding photos and videos online, celebrating a “day we will never forget.” Jota called marrying his childhood sweetheart a “dream come true.”

The football world continues to mourn the loss of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. Their memory will live on in the hearts of their family, friends, teammates, and fans worldwide.