Footballers Diogo Jota and André Silva were honored at a joint funeral in Portugal, attended by family, friends, and teammates.
The brothers, Diogo Jota, 28, and André Silva, 25, were laid to rest following their tragic deaths in a car accident on Thursday.
Hundreds of mourners, including local residents and supporters, gathered at the Igreja Matriz in Gondomar, the brothers’ hometown, on Saturday to pay their respects.
The funeral was also attended by prominent figures from the football world, with Jota’s Liverpool teammates Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson among those carrying floral tributes into the church prior to the ceremony.
The service took place in Gondomar, a Portuguese city near Porto, which has been deeply affected by the loss of the two brothers.
Diogo Jota and André Silva passed away at approximately 00:30 local time in the Spanish province of Zamora.
Reports indicate they were en route to catch a ferry and return to Liverpool for Jota’s pre-season training when the accident occurred.
The Portugal international had recently undergone minor surgery, and medical professionals had advised against air travel.
The accident occurred just 11 days after Jota’s marriage to his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children.
Players from Liverpool FC, who recently celebrated their Premier League victory just three months prior, attended the funeral as a group.
The sight of the team walking in unison, reminiscent of their entrance onto the field, was deeply moving.
There was a palpable sense of community and shared grief.
Many attendees displayed visible signs of sorrow, with supporters on the other side of the barriers applauding the players. A woman in the crowd called out to them, saying “Força!” – meaning “strength” in Portuguese.
Family and close friends entered the church in silence, many with their heads bowed as the church bells tolled.
One person in the procession held up a sign displaying Silva’s photograph, inscribed with the words: “Para sempre um de nós.” (Forever one of us.)
Due to the brothers’ significant impact on football and the local community, some attendees were only able to observe the ceremony from outside the church, often embracing and comforting each other.
Local residents and football enthusiasts observed the service, which lasted approximately an hour, in quiet contemplation.
Many wore football jerseys and carried merchandise representing various teams from Portugal and abroad, reflecting Jota and Silva’s careers, including Silva’s time with local club Penafiel.
Among the fans was Antônio Moreira, who arrived early to secure a spot outside the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, where the funeral was held.
“I know I won’t be able to go inside, but I wanted to pay my respects,” he said from behind the barrier.
Antônio then showed his phone case, which he described as worn, displaying the emblem of FC Porto.
Antônio shared fond memories of Jota’s time playing for the local club for a year, emphasizing that the brothers were more than just football stars.
“They were good people, from a humble family, people like us.”
He noted that the tragedy resonated deeply with him, as his own family experienced a similar loss 40 years ago when his aunt, uncle, and young cousin died in a car accident, leaving his other cousin behind.
While Jota and Silva were not his immediate family, their deaths felt personal.
“This is what I think: losing your parents is hard, really hard. But losing your children is unimaginable,” he added.
Jota’s journey as a player inspired many people in Gondomar, according to football fan Fábio Silva.
He had followed the brothers’ careers since their early days in local clubs and felt compelled to be present for their final farewell.
“Despite the impact they had on football, and even financially, they never let it show,” he said, emphasizing the family’s popularity in the town.
“The community is sad, devastated,” he added.
Fábio, who had spent time with the brothers over the years, explained that his presence was solely motivated by “respect for the brothers, the family.”
Avid football fans Fábio and Rafaela travelled from the nearby town of Lordelo to honor Jota and Silva.
Wearing Jota’s jersey, Fábio stressed the importance of being there “for Jota’s final day.” Both agreed that the community was deeply touched by the large turnout to pay respects.
They watched the ceremony from outside the church, alongside hundreds of other fans, which Fábio described as difficult. Rafaela concurred, but also acknowledged the beauty of the collective mourning.
“This is an example that you need to live life to the max,” Rafaela said, “because you never know when will be your last day.”
“Say everything you want to say, and need to say – tomorrow could be too late,” Fábio added.
Conor Coady, who captained Wolves during Diogo Jota’s three seasons at the club, described him as “a dream to work with and a pleasure to call a friend.”
The forward and his brother tragically died in a car crash in Spain on Thursday.
Portugal women’s head coach Francisco Neto paid tribute to Diogo Jota as thousands of fans also honored his memory during their Euro 2025 opener against Spain.
The football community is in mourning following the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, aged 28, in a car crash.
BBC Sport’s Nedum Onuoha reflects on the heartbreaking loss of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota following his death in a car crash, aged 28.