![\"Jordan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6275089.jpg\" "\\"Jordan")
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A number of current and former Liverpool players attended the funeral service (Image: PA Media)<\/p>\n
Liverpool<\/a> squad members have been left devastated as they said an emotional goodbye to their team-mate Diogo Jota<\/a> at his funeral service in Portugal. The 28-year-old father-of-three, recently wedded to Rute Cardoso, and his late brother Andre Silva were commemorated at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, near Porto, after losing their lives in a tragic car accident<\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n Liverpool<\/a> captain Virgil van Dijk and team-mate Andy Robertson paid homage by carrying red floral tributes donned with the brothers\u2019 respective shirt numbers. In a solemn show of respect, head coach Arne Slot<\/a>, much of the first-team, and prominent figures including Michael Edwards \u2013 pivotal in Jota’s transfer from Wolves to Liverpool<\/a> in 2020 and now part of Fenway Sports Group \u2013 were present alongside sporting director Richard Hughes and head physio Lee Nobes.<\/p>\n Goalkeeper Alisson Becker was tied down by international commitments with Brazil which meant he was absent in a similar situation to the one that prevented him from attending his father’s own funeral four years ago. He said in a touching Instagram<\/a> post: “Usually, I post things that make sense, but today, nothing makes sense!<\/p>\n “Once again, an ocean separates me from ‘saying goodbye’ to someone I love! But I know that I am well represented by my club mates! To you, my friend Rute, just know that you will never walk alone, we will be with you as soon as possible!”<\/p>\n A number of Jota’s former team-mates attended the ceremony, including ex-Liverpool<\/a> captain Jordan Henderson, who also paid his respects by laying flowers outside Anfield on Friday. James Milner, Thiago Alcantara, Caoimhin Kelleher, Fabinho, and former Wolves and Portugal team-mate Joao Moutinho were also in attendance.<\/p>\n Other notable attendees included Manchester City<\/a>‘s Portuguese duo Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias, as well as Manchester United<\/a> captain Bruno Fernandes<\/a>, who played alongside Jota for Portugal. Jota’s close friend Ruben Neves, who had flown in from Florida after competing in the Club World Cup, served as a pallbearer.<\/p>\n Diogo Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso after the funeral (Image: PA Media)<\/p>\n Mourners walk with the coffin after the funeral (Image: PA Media)<\/p>\n Liverpool manager Arne Slot paid his respects in Porto (Image: PA Media)<\/p>\n Nuno Espirito Santo, Jota’s former Wolves manager and current Nottingham Forest head coach, was also present.<\/p>\n Bernardo Silva shared his condolences with Portuguese broadcaster TVI, saying: “I can’t even imagine the pain of the family, of Rute, of the children, of the parents. I must talk a little about Jota, who was a great friend to all of us. His career, although not the most important thing, speaks for itself.<\/p>\n “More important than that, as a person, the memories that remain. Jota will remain in our hearts forever. He will always be present at all breakfasts, lunches, dinners, national team gatherings, PlayStation or card games.<\/p>\n “It is a very tough episode for all of us, because we spent a lot of time together. The memories I have with him are fantastic. These happy memories will remain, he will be present in every victory.<\/p>\n “We were rivals and team-mates for many years. He became a great friend. He was present at my wedding. Unfortunately, I wasn’t at his, because I was at the Club World Cup. It is a family that will always be with us and that we will try to preserve.”<\/p>\n Players from Penafiel, the team for whom Jota’s brother played, also attended. A wake was held on Friday for the pair before the coffins were carried into church on Saturday morning followed by mourners, led by Jota’s wife and family.<\/p>\n After the service, which was broadcast to hundreds standing outside, they were taken to the cemetery next to the church for a private ceremony. A seventh-day mass will be held on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Darwin Nunez and team-mate Wataru Endo were among those who attended the service (Image: PA Media)<\/p>\n Diogo Jota’s former team-mates James Milner and Jordan Henderson flew in for the service (Image: PA Media)<\/p>\n Virgil van Dijk was among the many mourners from Liverpool Football Club (Image: PA Media)<\/p>\n Jota’s national team manager Roberto Martinez, who was also in attendance, said: “They are really sad days, as you can imagine, but today we have shown we are a very large, but close family.<\/p>\n “It was essential for us that, (with) Andre Silva and Diogo Jota, we are together and we will always be together and their spirit will be with us forever.<\/p>\n “Thank you very much for your messages, for your support and everything that we have received (from) all over the world. It means a lot and today we are all one football family.”<\/p>\n![\"Diogo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6275092.jpg\" "\\"Diogo")
<\/p>\n![\"Diogo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6275093.jpg\" "\\"Diogo")
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<\/p>\n![\"Liverpool's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6275097.jpg\" "\\"Liverpool's")
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