Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28 and Liverpool FC have paid tribute to the footballer, with his wife Rute Cardoso standing by him through everything
Diogo and Ruth were childhood sweethearts
Diogo and Ruth were childhood sweethearts(Image: @rutecfcardoso14/Instagram)
Diogo Jota's wife supported his Liverpool dream in the months leading up to his death. Diogo played for the team in the UK before his sad death at the age of 28 following a tragic car accident.
Rute Cardoso was a keen support for her husband throughout his entire footballing career, which continued when he made the move to Liverpool. The family would dress up in matching merch, including the dogs.
Alongside, a post of her and Diogo and pictures of their young family - their children and their dogs in Liverpool FC merchandise - she wrote the lyrics: "Walk on, walk on. With hope in your heart. And you’ll never walk alone. You’ll never walk alone. Walk on, walk on. With hope in your heart. And you’ll never walk alone. You’ll never walk alone."
In a heartbreaking statement, Liverpool FC paid tribute to Diogo and spoke of the club and family's "unimaginable loss".
Diogo's family in their Liverpool merch
Diogo's family in their Liverpool merch(Image: @rutecfcardoso14/Instagram)
"Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre," they said.
"Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will provide them with our full support."
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves back in 2020 for a fee of around £45million. During his time at Liverpool, he helped them win the Premier League, FA Cup and the League Cup.
Pedro Proenca, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, has also paid tribute to the player and his brother. "The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, this early morning, in Spain," he said in a statement.
An adorable photo of their baby cheering Diogo on
An adorable photo of their baby cheering Diogo on
"Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 international appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.
"On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, they played their football. On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, they played their football."
He added: "The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked Uefa for a minute's silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women's European Championship... The loss of Diogo and Andre represent irreplaceable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything, daily, to honour their legacy."