Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo both broke down in tears on the pitch during the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final between Al Hilal and Fluminense after a touching tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother, who both died on Thursday
23:29, 04 Jul 2025
Ruben Neves
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Kalidou Koulibaly support Ruben Neves(Image: Getty Images)
Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo were visibly distraught as heartfelt tributes were paid to Diogo Jota and his younger sibling Andre Silva at the FIFA Club World Cup, following their tragic deaths.
Neves and Cancelo, both close pals and international colleagues of the Liverpool ace who tragically lost his life in a car accident in Spain last Thursday, were playing their first match since the devastating news. However, during a minute's silence held in Orlando, Florida on Friday evening, the Portuguese internationals were clearly heartbroken.
Both former Wolves skipper Neves and ex-Man City back Cancelo needed consoling from their team-mates. Post-tribute, an emotional Neves buried his face in his hands while Cancelo crouched down, wiping away tears as he braced himself for the match against Brazilian outfit Fluminense.
Ruben Neves wipes away tears during the tribute to Diogo Jota
Neves was heartbroken after the tribute(Image: DAZN)
The duo chose to represent their club, Al Hilal, in Friday's quarter-final clash. Head gaffer Simone Inzaghi had offered them the choice to sit out the game if they felt unable to play.
Both opted to participate, with Neves sharing a touching tribute to Jota on social media just an hour before kick-off, reports the Mirror.
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The pair have been mates and team-mates since 2016, making their mark together at Porto, before signing up with Wolves in the same summer and propelling the Black Country side from the Championship into Europe.
In a heartfelt message, Neves penned: "Bro, wherever you are, I know you'll read this, we've never been this sloppy and maybe now I regret it a little, but you know what you mean to me as much as I know what I mean to you.
Jota
Jota tragically lost his life in a car crash(Image: Liverpool FC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"More than a friendship, we're family, and we won't stop being that just because you've decided to sign a contract a little further away from us. When I go to the national team, you will continue to be by my side at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane... you will always be there with me, as usual.
"Let's keep laughing, making plans, sharing our life with each other. I'm going to make sure you're always present and I'll make sure that your loved ones never lack anything while you're there, far away but thinking of us, waiting for us.
"Life has brought us together and now it can't tear us apart. We've achieved some great things together, we still have a lot to go, I know we can. From today on, you will enter the field with me and we will follow our path together, on the stage where we met.
Joao Cancelo reacts following a moments silence in memory of former football player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva
Joao Cancelo reacts following a moments silence in memory of Jota(Image: Getty Images)
"Diogoal, you are my favourite lemonade! ! Amo-te."
Neves' emotional tribute followed his initial post on Thursday: "They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you."
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The football community has been plunged into grief following the tragic passing of Jota and his younger sibling on Thursday. A throng of mourners gathered at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, preceding the brothers' funeral at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme at 10am on Saturday.
Initially a private affair for family, it was subsequently opened to the public.
Among those paying their respects were Manchester City's Bernardo Silva and Manchester United's Diogo Dalot, as well as a delegation from Liverpool led by sporting director Richard Hughes and one of Jota's closest mates in football, fellow ex-Wolves and Portugal star, Joao Moutinho.