The 28-year-old, as well as his brother Andre, 25, were involved in a fatal car accident in the early hours of Thursday (July 3) in the Spanish province of Zamora.
A fans' favourite during his time at Molineux, Jota made 131 appearances for the club between 2017 and 2020, scoring 44 goals and helping Nuno Espirito Santo's side earn promotion to the Premier League and back-to-back European campaigns.
Floral tributes at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, in memory of Diogo Jota.
Floral tributes at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, in memory of Diogo Jota.
Supporters began to place scarves, shirts and flowers beside the Billy Wright Statue outside Molineux shortly after 11am Thursday, with hundreds arriving throughout the day to pay their respects to their former hero.
Mourners were set to gather to honour the brothers at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning (July 4), a local parish priest said.
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 at the Igreja Matriz on Saturday at 10am.
"I'm heartbroken to hear the news," supporter Adam Farmer told the Express & Star on Thursday. "When my mate messaged me I thought it was rumours about him going to [Aston] Villa.
"When I looked I was just lost for words really. The fact he was married so recently, his kids and his wife, to see all that taken away is truly devastating."
Scarves, cards and flowers were placed in memory of Diogo Jota
Wolves fans react to the sudden and tragic death of Diogo Jota
Police, investigating the accident at 12.30am on Thursday in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora, said: “In the absence of a conclusion of the experts’ evidence, everything points that a car left the road, due to a tyre blowout while overtaking.”
Jota won 49 caps and scored 14 goals for Portugal, last month winning the Nations League for a second time.
International team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo wrote on X: “It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married.
“To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota
Matt Wild, Wolves’ director of football operations and administration, who worked closely with Jota when he was at the club, said: “We are all completely shocked. It’s such devastating news, not only for the passing of Diogo, which is just tragic enough, but to lose his brother as well.
“When I think about Diogo, the first thing I remember is the first day he signed and he was so excited to be part of the Fosun and Wolves project, which was in its infancy. He joined at the start of the 2017/18, season and he really was a revelation.
“On the field, he was so tenacious, so determined – he was an absolute warrior, and he gave us so many great memories. The moments that we had in Europe were all cherished and he was a big part of that.
Diogo Jota of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Diogo Jota of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
“He was part of one of the most successful periods of our club’s history and he was so kind-hearted off the pitch as well. I remember when he left for Liverpool, he personally came round to every person and every department at Compton to thank them and say goodbye, he had pictures taken with everyone and that’s what he was like.
“He left this club as a star, and he will always be a star in our eyes.”