A somber atmosphere enveloped the town of Gondomar, near Porto, Portugal, as Liverpool players and staff joined family, friends, and fans to mourn the tragic loss of Diogo Jota. The 28-year-old forward and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning. The funeral took place on Saturday at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot, captain Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister were among the Liverpool contingent present. Former Liverpool teammates Jordan Henderson and James Milner also attended to pay their respects. The players arrived at the Portuguese chapel to applause from crowds. Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson were seen carrying a floral tribute bearing Jota's number 20. Other Liverpool players present included Curtis Jones, Federico Chiesa, Wataru Endo, and Caoimhin Kelleher.
The funeral followed a wake held on Friday at the Capela da Ressurreicao in Gondomar. Jota's parents attended the wake, alongside Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, and Jota's agent. People held service sheets that featured pictures of both brothers, with the largest one showing Jota in his Liverpool FC shirt making a heart sign with his hands.
Jota and his brother were traveling in a Lamborghini when the car crashed on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria, near Zamora, Spain. The car reportedly burst into flames following a suspected tire blowout. Jota was traveling by car to catch a ferry back to England after being advised against flying due to a minor surgical procedure. He was expected to begin pre-season training with Liverpool on Monday.
The news of Jota's death prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the football world. Liverpool Football Club postponed the return of players for pre-season following the tragedy. Former teammates including Portugal and Manchester City stars Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, along with former Liverpool teammates Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara, were also present. The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo would not be attending the funeral.
The parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, Jose Manuel Macedo, stated that the funeral was set to begin at 10am on Saturday. The coffins were carried into the church as the sounds of bells were replaced by stringed instruments. Many mourners were seen comforting each other as they walked towards the church. The atmosphere was described as deeply emotional.
