Facebook Twitter (X) Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
Family and Liverpool players gather for funeral of Diogo Jota and André Silva, uniting in grief to honour the lives of the Portuguese football star and his younger brother, who tragically died in a car crash in Spain. The emotional service took place on Saturday in Gondomar, Portugal, drawing hundreds of mourners, including teammates, national figures, and fans from across the globe.
Jota, 28, and Silva, 21, were killed early Thursday morning when their Lamborghini suffered a suspected tyre blowout on the A-52 highway near Zamora, veered off the road, and burst into flames. The brothers were en route to catch a ferry to England, where Jota was due to rejoin Liverpool for pre-season training. The tragedy occurred just 11 days after Jota married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children.
The funeral, held at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, was attended by Liverpool manager Arne Slot, captain Virgil van Dijk, and players including Andy Robertson, Darwin Núñez, Curtis Jones, and Joe Gomez. Van Dijk and Robertson carried floral tributes shaped like football shirts—one bearing Jota’s number 20, the other Silva’s number 30. The silence of the players as they entered the church was broken only by the soft applause of the crowd lining the streets.
Portugal national team stars Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, João Félix, and Rúben Dias also paid their respects, alongside national coach Roberto Martínez and former manager Fernando Santos. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro joined the mourners, underscoring the national impact of the loss.
Inside the chapel, the Bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda, led a deeply moving homily, addressing Jota’s parents, wife, and children. “Solidarity in love is always stronger than death,” he said, as the congregation wept. Outside, speakers broadcast the service to the crowd, many of whom wore football shirts and held scarves in tribute.
Jota’s impact extended far beyond the pitch. A product of Paços de Ferreira’s academy, he rose to prominence with Atlético Madrid, FC Porto, and Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining Liverpool in 2020. In 182 appearances for the Reds, he scored 65 goals and helped the club win the Premier League, FA Cup, and two League Cups. He also earned 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 goals.
Silva, though less known internationally, was a promising talent who played for FC Peñafiel in Portugal’s second division. Locals remembered him as humble and hardworking, with a bright future ahead.
Tributes poured in from around the world. At Anfield, fans laid flowers and scarves beneath the Shankly Gates. In Cardiff, British band Oasis dedicated “Live Forever” to Jota during a concert. Portuguese tennis players at Wimbledon wore black armbands in his honour.
Liverpool postponed the start of pre-season training and closed club stores and museums until Monday. Staff were offered grief counselling, and the club pledged to support Jota’s family. “He wasn’t just a teammate,” said Van Dijk. “He was an unbelievable family man.”
As the coffins were carried out of the church, silence fell over Gondomar. One mourner whispered, “He gave hope to kids here.” Another clutched a Liverpool scarf and said, “He was our pride.”