The football world has been plunged into profound mourning following the tragic death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, aged 28, and his brother, André Silva, 25, in a devastating car accident on Thursday, July 3. The incident occurred on the A-52 highway near Zamora, Spain, when their Lamborghini veered off the road and caught fire. Reports indicate the car left the road due to a tire blowout while overtaking another vehicle. Jota was reportedly traveling by car to catch a ferry to England for Liverpool’s pre-season training, having been advised against flying due to a minor surgical procedure. The untimely demise of the brothers came just two weeks after Jota had married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three young children.

Funeral services for Diogo and André were held on Saturday, July 5, at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, their hometown in Portugal. The solemn event drew hundreds of mourners, including a large contingent from Liverpool FC, such as head coach Arne Slot, captain Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister, Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo, along with Sporting Director Richard Hughes and CEO of football Michael Edwards. Numerous Portugal national team players, including Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, João Cancelo, and Ruben Neves, also attended, demonstrating the widespread grief felt across the football community. Emotional scenes unfolded as family members, friends, and teammates gathered to pay their respects, with fans lining the streets, holding flowers, and weeping quietly.

Tributes poured in from around the globe for the beloved footballer. Nigerian Super Falcons forward Rinsola Babajide dedicated her goal and assist against Tunisia in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) to Jota, mimicking his signature celebration. Ghanaian player Kwame Opoku similarly honored Jota by recreating his PlayStation controller celebration after scoring the winning goal in the President’s Cup final. Raúl Jiménez, the Wolves striker, held up Jota’s shirt as a tribute. Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores Aveiro, expressed her deep sorrow on Instagram, stating, “There are things in life that make no sense.” Keith McMahon, the Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana, also offered heartfelt condolences, emphasizing Jota’s special place in the football world. Manchester United, Liverpool’s rivals, extended their deepest sympathies, and players like Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, who attended the funeral, shared emotional messages reflecting on their bond with Jota.

A notable absentee from the funeral was Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, which sparked criticism. However, his sister, Katia Aveiro, defended his decision, suggesting that his presence would have caused a media frenzy, diverting attention from the solemnity of the occasion and the grieving family. She recalled similar difficulties during their father’s funeral in 2005, emphasizing the need for privacy during such painful times.

In a gesture of support, Liverpool FC announced its decision to pay the remainder of Jota’s contract to his family. Having signed a five-year extension in 2022 at £140,000 per week, the club committed to paying approximately £14.5 million, covering the last two years of his contract. In recognition of the profound impact of Jota’s death, Liverpool also postponed their pre-season training, initially scheduled for July 7, by a day, allowing teammates to attend the funeral and grieve. Diogo Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020, making 182 appearances, scoring 65 goals, and providing 26 assists. He contributed to Liverpool’s Premier League, FA Cup, and two League Cup victories. He also earned 49 caps for Portugal, winning the UEFA Nations League twice. His career included spells at Paços de Ferreira, Atlético Madrid, and FC Porto.