Diogo Jota's wake was attended by a number of Premier League stars and his former team-mates on Friday, as the world of football continues to mourn the tragic death of the Liverpool striker
Patrick Hill Senior News Reporter, Alex Richards Sport Editor and Simon Hamalienko Senior Content Editor (Live)
20:05, 04 Jul 2025
Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva, the Manchester City captain, arrives at the public wake(Image: Getty Images)
Sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports' CEO of Football Michael Edwards were among a Liverpool delegation who paid their respects to Diogo Jota at his wake in Portugal on Friday evening.
Ex-Liverpool stars Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho, along with Manchester United's Diogo Dalot and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva - both international colleagues of Jota - also attended the Capela da Ressurreicao in Gondomar, the hometown of the late striker.
The football community has been plunged into grief following the tragic passing of Jota and his younger sibling, Andre Silva, on Thursday. The brothers tragically lost their lives in a car accident near Zamora, close to Spain's north-western border with Portugal.
The devastating event happened just days after Jota tied the knot with his childhood love, Rute Cardoso.
Jota
Jota sadly passed away in tragic car crash(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
On Friday morning, mourners gathered for a wake in Portugal, preceding the brothers' funeral at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme at 10am on Saturday. Initially a private family affair, it was later opened to the public, with hundreds lining up around the 17th-century church, reports the Mirror.
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Liverpool are set to bid a heartfelt goodbye to Jota and his brother at the funeral on Saturday. While Liverpool have yet to confirm details, a number of players are anticipated to be present.
Ex-Spurs and Chelsea boss, Andre Villas-Boas, now president of Porto, was among those who came to the church to honour the club's former stars. Reflecting on their legacy, he said: "They left behind a lot of history. Diogo has a history in the senior team and André has many years from the children's team to the under-19s.
Joaquim, center, father of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, arrives at church
Joaquim (centre) father of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, arrives accompanied by other relatives at a church(Image: AP)
"Diogo, particularly as a prominent public figure, was a silent hero. We all cherished everything he embodied, not just on the pitch, but off it too. He was a collaborator with FC Porto through its Esports team. Someone who will be fondly remembered, just like his brother.
"Let's hope that the memory of these two athletes, two great men, endures through time."
Nottingham Forest's Jota Silva, a Gondomar native, and Joao Moutinho, Jota's ex-Wolves and Portugal squad mate, were among the mourners at the chapel, joined by Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca and super agent Jorge Mendes, who was visibly moved outside the venue. A delegation from Paços de Ferreira, Jota's first club, presented a yellow wreath.
Portugal's president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and prime minister Luis Montenegro both paid their respects in person, while tributes also poured in from members of the Portuguese parliament for the two brothers.
People queuing outside the funeral chapel for the wake in Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto
People queuing outside the funeral chapel for the wake(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah, one of the final Liverpool players to express his sorrow on social media, confessed he was apprehensive about returning to the club following the sudden death of Jota. Some players were scheduled to return on Friday for preliminary pre-season testing, but the initial phase of a staggered return was delayed as everyone at the club grapples with the devastating loss.
"I am truly lost for words. Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break," Salah shared on social media. "Team-mates come and go but not like this. It's going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won't be there when we go back.
"My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who suddenly lost their children. Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten."
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes at the wake of Diogo Jota(Image: PA)
Diogo Jota's wedding caterer has also paid homage to the star, recalling the joy he witnessed on the day of the wedding.
Rui Paula, a two Michelin-starred chef, reminisced: "The last time I saw him was at the wedding. On the last day, he had a meal with Rute (his wife) and the children, and then got in the car to go to Liverpool. His wife was supposed to follow today, Friday, with the children.
"The wedding was all set up, absolutely stunning. I handled the catering, there was a live band, he was overjoyed. The ceremony took place at the Igreja da Lapa, in Porto, and the reception was in Marco de Canaveses. He arrived and asked me to whip up something for him to eat as he was peckish, given the wedding had been delayed.
"But when I travelled to Liverpool for the menu tasting, for the wedding, he was also in high spirits.
Diogo Dalot
Portugal and Manchester United player Diogo Dalot(Image: PA)
"He was incredibly happy on his wedding day. There's always a bit of worry and anxiety at weddings, but he was utterly content. They met quite young, had three children, lived in Liverpool, and that's where I got to know them better.
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"What strikes me is their humility; fame hasn't changed them, they're exemplary individuals, and Diogo was a simple, professional, dedicated, gentle, kind young man - everything you could hope for in a good person. This is a massive tragedy, because just think, his parents have lost two children, and his wife is left with three little ones. They had only been married for 15 days on Sunday"