Diogo Jota’s funeral: Family, friends, teammates pay tribute to Liverpool star, brother

Distraught family, friends and teammates of Liverpool star Diogo Jota have gathered for his funeral after he died in a car crash in Spain.

The father-of-three died alongside his brother, Andre Silva, after their Lamborghini burst into flames following a tyre blowout in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The mood was sombre as dozens of stars from the Liverpool and Portugal national teams arrived at the Capela da Ressurreicao, where just 11 days ago Jota had married his wife, Rute Cardoso.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and left-back Andy Robertson carried football shirt-shaped wreaths with Jota’s Number 20 on the back, followed closely by manager Arne Slot and other players from the club.

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United, Joao Felix of Chelsea, and Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City were among the other footballing stars, legends, agents and media figures also pictured.

As the funeral bells rang out, family and friends carried and followed the two coffins into the Capela da Ressurreicao in heart-rending scenes.

Diogo Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso, who he married just weeks ago. She was held closely by another woman as she followed behind her husband’s coffin, one hand resting on top.

The funeral began at 10am and the sound is being broadcast to the hundreds of reporters and mourners outside the church.

Jota’s teammate and close friend, Ruben Neves acted as pallbearer.

Neves flew to Portugal from Florida overnight, where he played a Club World Cup match for Al Hilal. Along with his Portuguese teammate Joao Cancelo, he was seen sobbing during a moment’s silence before the game.

Jota and Neves have played together since they were young, both representing the Portugal national team at youth level.

They joined Wolves at the same time in 2017, both establishing themselves as exciting young players in the Premier League, and developing a close bond during the three years they played together.

“You know what you mean to me as much as I know what I mean to you,” Neves wrote in his tribute to Jota on Friday. “More than a friendship, we’re family, and we won’t stop being that just because you’ve decided to sign a contract a little further away from us.”

He said he would “make sure that your loved ones never lack anything while you’re there, far away but thinking of us, waiting for us”.

Rute Cardoso, his wife who he married just 11 days ago, is helped to carry the coff

Funeral service begins after coffins are carried into church

The coffins holding Diogo Jota and Andrew Silva have entered the church, where the funeral service is now underway.

As the funeral bells rang out, family and friends carried and followed the two coffins into the Capela da Ressurreicao in truly heart-rending scenes.

They were followed by distraught family members, including Diogo Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso, who he married just weeks ago. She was held closely by another woman as she followed behind her husband’s coffin, one hand rested on top.

The attendees are now inside the church, with some gathered outside as the crowd spills outside the church.

The service has begun and the sound is being broadcast outside the church.

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