Funeral Plans after Tragic Passing
The atmosphere was deeply emotional as fans, family, and fellow players gathered for a memorial service at the Capela de São Cosme, near the city of Porto. The official funeral is scheduled for 10 AM on July 5 (local time) at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, the same church where Jota had celebrated his wedding with longtime partner Rute Cardoso less than two weeks ago.
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of July 3, as Jota and André were traveling to Santander, Spain, to catch a ferry back to the UK. Jota had opted not to fly following lung surgery, heeding medical advice. However, the journey ended in heartbreak. Their green Lamborghini Huracán suffered a tire blowout on the A-52 highway near Zamora, veered off the road, and burst into flames.
Both brothers were declared dead at the scene. Autopsies were conducted in Spain before the bodies were transported back to Portugal for burial.
Various Acts of Grief & Tribute
Among those in mourning is Jordan Henderson, Jota’s former teammate at Liverpool, who attended the funeral visibly emotional. Pedro Neto, currently at Chelsea and a close friend of Jota, is reportedly heartbroken. Despite the grief, Neto has chosen to play against Palmeiras on July 5, stating through teammate Marc Cucurella that he will “give more than 100%” and hopes to score in Jota’s honor.
Meanwhile, Jota’s agent, the renowned Jorge Mendes, shared his devastation, stating that he still cannot believe the tragedy is real. He also described Diogo as a model professional, a wonderful husband and father.
Additionally, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jurgen Klopp, Arne Slot, and teammates like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have all publicly shared their sorrow, adding to the global outpouring of grief.
Liverpool FC has officially retired his No. 20 shirt as a permanent tribute to the player who scored 65 goals for the club and helped win two EFL Cups, one FA Cup, and a Premier League title.
Back in Liverpool, thousands of fans have gathered at Anfield, leaving flowers, handwritten notes, scarves, and shirts bearing Jota’s number 20. Among the tributes were a hand-painted portrait, bouquets in red and white, and symbolic items reflecting Jota’s impact.