A vigil is being held in the Liverpool star's hometown of Gondomar before a funeral on Saturday as tributes continue to pour in
Mourners have gathered to pay tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva as their bodies returned home. The vigil began at 8am at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, near Porto in northern Portugal after the bodies returned to their hometown late on Thursday. The 28-year-old Liverpool player and his 26-year-old brother, died in a tragic car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning on a road near Zamora in north-western Spain.José Manuel Macedo, parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in São Cosme, told the PA news agency in a translated message that a wake for the brothers will take place on Friday at the nearby Capela da Ressurreição before their funeral at the Igreja Matri tomorrow morning.A hearse carrying one of the bodies of Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva leaves the funeral home in Puebla de Sanabria ahead of their funeral on Saturday. (Photo by Cesar Manso / AFP) A person places a tribute to honor Liverpool’s Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, outside Gondomar stadium. (Photo: REUTERS/Pedro Nunes)Tearful and shocked Liverpool supporters laid flowers, scarves, shirts and flags; and lit candles outside Anfield after the news broke.Jota had married his long-term partner, Rute Cordoso, just 10 days before the crash, and was heading back to England for pre-season training via a ferry from Santander, having been advised by doctors not to fly.The hearse arrived in the brother’s hometown of Gondomar late last night. Mourners lined the footpaths and applauded the grey cars as they rolled by. Tears for a local hero, one of their own. Universally loved, the tributes from the footballing world have poured in from teammates, players, managers and supporters. Candles lie in a makeshift memorial for Liverpool’s Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain. (Photo: REUTERS/Pedro Nunes)Liverpool FC issued a statement saying they were “devastated by the tragic passing”, while current manager Arne Slot said “My message to (Jota’s family) is very clear – you will never walk alone. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us.”Andy Robertson, Liverpool full-back and Scotland captain said, “The ones I’m thinking about most right now are the family. Their loss is too much to bear.“He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real. Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun.“He was the most British foreign player I’ve ever met. We used to joke he was really Irish… I’d try to claim him as Scottish, obviously. I even called him Diogo MacJota.”Liverpool fans have laid tributes outside Anfield. (Photo: Reuters)Spain and Portugal pause for a moments silence prior to the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 Group B match between Spain and Portugal at Stadion Wankdorf on July 03, 2025. (Photo: GETTY/ Aitor Alcalde)In a tribute on Instagram, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he was “heartbroken” to hear about Diogo Jota’s death.He said: “This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it!“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre.“Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!“All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace.”UEFA announced that a “moment of silence will be observerd at all of today’s and tomorrow’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 matches in memory of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva.”This included last night’s Portugal game against Spain in the Women’s Euro 2025.