Liverpool and Portuguese teammates joined family and locals in bidding farewell to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in their hometown of Gondomar, Portugal, following the tragic car crash in Spain on July 3.
Liverpool and Portugal Stars Attend Funeral of Diogo Jota and Brother in Emotional Goodbye
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk arrived carrying a red wreath shaped like a football jersey, number 20—Jota’s iconic shirt.
Close friend and teammate Andrew Robertson followed with a similar tribute emblazoned with 30, the number worn by André Silva at Penafiel.
Van Dijk leads Liverpool players in the emotional final farewell to Diogo Jota 🕊️ Current teammates and former players gathered at the funeral of Jota and his brother André Silva in Gondomar #PremierLeague #beINSPORTS pic.twitter.com/4KqgukPn8F
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) July 5, 2025
Manager Arne Slot, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, and others also attended in solemn support.
Portugal squad participants joined the service as well. Rúben Neves, who flew in right after playing with Al Hilal at the Club World Cup, honored Jota as a pallbearer, describing them not just as friends, but family.
Other high-profile national teammates Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias also paid their respects, accompanied by national coach Roberto Martinez, who emphasized their unity and enduring bond.
The funeral of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, has been held in their hometown, Gondomar.
Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson carried flowers depicting the pair’s squad numbers, 20 and 30, before two beloved human beings who will never be forgotten were laid to rest ❤️ pic.twitter.com/RoStOa1yPO
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 5, 2025
The funeral took place at the Igreja Matriz church under the guidance of Bishop Manuel Linda, who comforted those grieving with the message that “solidarity in love is always stronger than death”.
Hundreds of local residents filled the streets outside, and fans around the world continued laying tributes including flowers at Liverpool’s Anfield.
Moments like these revealed the depth of Jota’s impact not just as an electrifying forward, but as a beloved teammate and community figure.
His funeral was more than a final goodbye: it was a celebration of a life lived with passion, camaraderie, and love that profoundly touched everyone he met.
