The football world was plunged into profound mourning following the tragic deaths of Liverpool star Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 25, who sadly passed away in a car accident in Zamora, Spain, on Thursday morning. The incident occurred when their Lamborghini veered off the road and caught fire. Diogo Jota was reportedly en route to take a ferry from Santander to England for Liverpool’s pre-season training, having been advised against flying due to a minor surgical procedure.

A deeply emotional funeral service was held for the brothers on Saturday in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, Portugal, following a private wake at Sao Cosme Chapel. Their heartbroken mother, Isabel Silva, was seen in tears at the cemetery, and Jota's agent, Jorge Mendes, also expressed visible grief. Diogo Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, whom he had recently married on June 22 and with whom he shared three young children, was also overcome with emotion while carrying her husband's coffin.

The funeral saw a significant turnout from the football community, with many teammates, coaches, and friends paying their last respects. Liverpool players, led by head coach Arne Slot and captain Virgil van Dijk, were in attendance, with Van Dijk and Andy Robertson presenting floral tributes. Van Dijk later expressed his devastation on Instagram, praising Jota as a human being, a player, and an unbelievable family man. Other notable attendees included Manchester United duo Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, Chelsea star João Felix, and Al-Hilal players Ruben Neves and João Cancelo, who flew in from the Club World Cup in the United States. Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez, and Jota’s former Wolves coach Nuno Espirito Santo, were also present.

However, the funeral was marked by the conspicuous absence of Portugal national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo, which sparked widespread criticism and outrage among fans. Despite expectations for his attendance, Ronaldo was reported to be holidaying on his yacht in Majorca. While some suggested he might have chosen to grieve privately, no official explanation was provided by him or his representatives, fueling public disappointment. In contrast, Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores Aveiro, paid her respects to the brothers via emotional Instagram posts, offering sincere condolences and lamenting the senselessness of their untimely passing.

Diogo Jota had a distinguished career, playing for clubs like Pacos de Ferreira, Porto, Wolves, and achieving significant success with Liverpool, including helping them lift their 20th English title. André Silva had primarily played in Portugal, most recently for second-division side Penafiel. The tragic loss of both brothers has sent shockwaves across the globe, with tributes pouring in from numerous high-profile players and clubs.