Siblings in the Spotlight: A Heartfelt Religious Discourse Delivered by Diogo Jota and His Brother
Diogo Jota, the 29-year-old Portuguese footballer who played for Liverpool FC, was laid to rest in Gondomar, near Porto, on Friday, following a tragic car accident that took his life and that of his brother, André da Silva (25), on Wednesday night in northwestern Spain[1][4].
The funeral service was attended by Jota's family, close friends, and teammates, including Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and coach Arne Slot. A poignant moment during the service was when Van Dijk carried a floral tribute with Jota's jersey number 20[2].
Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso, walked behind his coffin during the funeral procession. The children, aged four, two, and seven months, were not present at the service. Bishop Manuel Linda of Porto addressed the young family in his sermon, promising to pray a lot for them and sending a special greeting through their mother and grandparents[6][7].
The bishop also expressed his concern for the children, stating that they are suffering greatly[3]. He emphasised his presence with them during this difficult time.
The heads of state of Portugal, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, paid their last respects to Jota the day before during the traditional vigil[5]. Many more people waited in silent prayer and mourning outside the church where the service took place.
Jota's teammates and friends from the football world reacted with shock to the news of his death. Ruben Neves, a teammate of Jota, attended the funeral after flying in from the Club World Cup in the USA. Neves, who plays for Al-Hilal, played in the tournament the night before the funeral and cried during a minute's silence for his late friend[8].
Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso had been a couple since their school days[10]. The couple had recently married on June 22[9].
The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, but a blown tire is believed to have caused the car to veer off the road, break through a guardrail, and catch fire[11].
The football world continues to mourn the loss of Diogo Jota, a talented player who made a significant impact on the field and off it. His memory will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and fans.
[1] Diogo Jota and his brother die in car accident in Spain [2] Virgil van Dijk carries floral tribute with Diogo Jota's jersey number at funeral [3] Children of Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso are suffering greatly, according to the bishop [4] Diogo Jota and his brother André da Silva die in car accident in Spain [5] Heads of state of Portugal pay their last respects to Diogo Jota during traditional vigil [6] Bishop Manuel Linda addresses the children of Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso in his sermon [7] Bishop promises to pray a lot for the children of Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso [8] Ruben Neves cries during a minute's silence for his late friend Diogo Jota [9] Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso marry on June 22 [10] Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso had been a couple since their school days [11] A blown tire is believed to have caused the accident that led to the death of Diogo Jota and his brother André da Silva.
Other teammates of Diogo Jota in European-leagues, such as those from the premier-league, may have sent their condolences during this difficult time. Diogo Jota's impact on the football field spanned across multiple other sports, with his memory cherished in the hearts of a global fanbase.
