Diogo Jota: Mourners to gather in Portugal for wake of Liverpool star

8 godzin temu

Mourners are to gather to honour Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, a local parish priest has said.

The 28-year-old father of three died in a car crash in Spain alongside his brother Andre Silva after a Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off the road and burst into flames following a suspected tyre blowout.

The pair were found dead following the crash on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. Jota had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso just 11 days before the fatal incident.

'A loved one to all'

Jose Manuel Macedo, parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, told the PA news agency in a translated message that a wake for the brothers would take place at 8am at the nearby Capela da Ressurreicao, before their funeral is held at the Igreja Matriz on Saturday at 10am.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said the "sense of shock is absolute" for the club, describing Jota as "not just our player" but "a loved one to all of us".

“I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals," he continued.

“The essence of what a Liverpool player should be.”

Slot added that Jota “never sought popularity” but gained it anyway and was a friend to everyone, able to make others feel good about themselves “just by being with them”.

He said the last time they spoke he wished Jota luck for his upcoming wedding.

“In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this,” Slot added.

He recalled learning, when he first came to the club, of the song Liverpool fans sang for Jota and said he knew “straight away” that meant the player must have “special qualities”.

“When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song,” Slot said.

“For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.”

The club has opened physical and digital books of condolence following the deaths.

Supporters and members of the public can visit the Anfield Road Stand reception area over the coming days to sign a message, whilst an online book is available on the Liverpool FC website.

Stadium tributes

Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the stadium and all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday. Staff have also been offered wellbeing support.

The Portuguese Football Federation said it was "devastated" to learn of the deaths, adding: "Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football".

Investigation underway

Police said they were investigating the possibility that the pair's vehicle left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking.

A source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed "a possible speeding incident" was being looked at. No other vehicles are said to have been involved.

Pictures of the aftermath showed debris scattered along the roadside, including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle.

Liverpool fans began leaving tributes outside Anfield on Thursday morning, with flowers and messages including "Thanks for everything, Diogo".

Jota was part of Liverpool's Premier League-winning side in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring six goals in 26 appearances. He joined the Merseyside club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020.

Football world mourns

Portugal national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo said he wishes Jota's family "all the strength in the world" following the Liverpool forward's death.

"Doesn't make any sense," Ronaldo wrote in a translated Instagram message. "Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married. To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world."

Jota and his wife reportedly got together in 2013 and have three children together - two sons and a daughter born in November.

He frequently shared pictures of his family on Instagram, whilst his wife has posted images of their holidays in Dubai and Lapland.

On Wednesday, Jota and Cardoso posted video footage of their wedding with the caption: "A day we will never forget."

(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.

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