Friends and family wept openly as the coffins of Liverpool star Diogo Jota and brother André Silva were carried into the church, with Van Dijk bearing a floral tribute of a red shirt adorned with Jota’s number 20,and teammate Andy Robertson carrying a matching tribute for André Silva, also a professional footballer.
The two brothers died early Thursday morning in a crash in Spain’s Zamora province, when the Lamborghini they were traveling in veered off the road.
In a somber gathering that transcended club rivalries, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and several teammates, alongside club manager Arne Slot and Portugal manager Roberto Martinez, attended the emotional funeral service held on Saturday at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in the brothers’ hometown, just outside Porto.
The sight of these giants of the game in mourning underscored the profound impact of the tragedy.
Diogo Jota, aged 28, had just celebrated what should have been among the happiest weeks of his life, having married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, a mere 11 days prior.
He leaves behind his wife and three young children, a heartbreaking detail that deepens the sorrow of his untimely departure.
Tributes have poured in from across the world. At Anfield, Liverpool’s home stadium, fans created a moving shrine of scarves, flowers, balloons, and handwritten notes.
Chelsea’s Pedro Neto, a Portugal teammate, walked onto the pitch holding a Chelsea shirt bearing the names Diogo and André during a Club World Cup match, visibly fighting back tears.
Even the legendary rock band Oasis paid a poignant tribute during their reunion tour, projecting Jota’s No. 20 Liverpool shirt as they played their iconic song “Live Forever,” eliciting a wave of applause from the 75,000-strong crowd.
Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, known as Diogo Jota, was a gifted forward who made 182 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 65 goals.
He was instrumental in their historic 2024–25 English league title victory and proudly represented Portugal 49 times internationally, having recently helped them secure the 2025 Nations League.
“We have lost two champions,” stated the Portuguese national team, lamenting an “irreparable loss.” Teammate Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his disbelief on Instagram: “Doesn’t make any sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you were married.”
Spanish authorities are investigating the crash, with initial reports suggesting a tire blowout during an overtaking maneuver, and a government source indicating a “possible speeding incident.”
Their bodies were repatriated to Portugal after family identification. The football world collectively mourns the bright futures extinguished too soon.
