Grieving soccer stars accompanied at Diogo Jota's family funeral for the demise of the Liverpool player and his sibling.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the soccer community is in mourning following the fatal car crash that claimed the lives of Portuguese soccer stars Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva. The tragic incident occurred in Spain on Thursday morning.
The funeral for the brothers took place in Gondomar, Portugal, on Saturday morning, with an array of prominent figures from the soccer world in attendance to pay their respects.
Among those who attended were several Liverpool FC players, although specific names were not disclosed. However, it is expected that team captain Virgil van Dijk and ex-captain Jordan Henderson were present, having been close friends and teammates of Jota.
Liverpool officials Julian Ward and Michael Edwards also made the journey to Portugal for the funeral proceedings. The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager, Andre Villas-Boas, was among those paying their respects during the wake.
Rúben Dias and Roberto Martínez, other notable soccer figures, were also present at the funeral in Gondomar, near Porto.
The Portuguese Prime Minister was also in attendance, as were Jota's agent and his wife, Rute Cardoso. Cardoso was pictured embracing other mourners as she arrived at the chapel ahead of the funeral service on Saturday morning.
A wake for the brothers' family was held on Friday morning at a church in Gondomar, as confirmed by the church. The Igreja Martiz de Gondomar kept its doors open to the public on Friday afternoon during the wake.
Diogo Jota was married to Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three young children. The couple had recently celebrated their union less than two weeks before the tragic accident.
Jota's brother, André Silva, was also a professional soccer player. The details of their car crash are still under investigation.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of Diogo Jota and André Silva during this difficult time.
The Liverpool FC team captain, Virgil van Dijk, and ex-captain Jordan Henderson, who were close friends and teammates of Diogo Jota, are expected to have attended the funeral. Other soccer figures who were present included Andre Villas-Boas, Rúben Dias, and Roberto Martínez. Diogo Jota, who was married to Rute Cardoso, was a professional footballer, and his brother, André Silva, was also a soccer player.
