The football world came to a solemn standstill on Saturday as family, friends, and global football stars gathered in Gondomar, near Porto, to lay Diogo Jota and his younger brother, Andre Silva, to rest—just 48 hours after the tragic car crash that claimed their lives.
Jota, 28, a forward for Liverpool and the Portuguese national team, and his 25-year-old brother were killed on Thursday when their car veered off a motorway in northwestern Spain and burst into flames.
The crash occurred barely a week after Jota’s wedding, plunging the country and football community into deep mourning.
The funeral service, which commenced at 0900 GMT at the Mother Church of Gondomar, was led by the Bishop of Porto and drew a crowd of grieving supporters and dignitaries
Former teammates served as pallbearers, gently carrying the brothers’ coffins into the church amid heart-wrenching scenes.
The night before, hundreds gathered at a wake to pay their respects, including immediate family members.
Their grandfather, visibly shaken, had to be assisted into the chapel—one of many emotional moments captured during the solemn observances.
Saturday’s service drew high-profile attendees from across the football and political spectrum.
Among them were Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, Jota’s agent Jorge Mendes, and FC Porto president André Villas-Boas.
READ ALSO: Diogo Jota, Brother’s Bodies Arrive Portugal for Burial
Also, in attendance were Jota’s Liverpool teammate Fabinho and Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes, both visibly emotional.
The unity shown by rivals and teammates alike underscored the impact Jota had both on and off the pitch.
“Football is truly in mourning,” said Pedro Proenca, president of the Portuguese Football Federation. “Diogo was more than a player—he was the embodiment of Portuguese brilliance and humility.”
The funeral procession through Gondomar’s streets was met with silence, only broken by the occasional sob and whisper of prayers.
Locals watched with sorrow as the two brothers were honoured with final tributes before being laid to rest side by side.
In the words of one mourner: “Portugal has lost not just a star, but a son.”
