Jota, 28, died in a car crash alongside his brother Andre Silva in northern Spain in the early hours of Thursday
Liverpool stars are expected to attend an emotional farewell to Diogo Jota at his funeral in Portugal on Saturday.
The 28-year-old football died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in the early hours of Thursday in northern Spain.
Their bodies were repatriated to Portugal after being identified by the family, Spanish government officials said.
The brothers’ funeral is scheduled for 10am, according to officials in their hometown of Gondomar. It is set to be held at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church.
It is believed a flight to Portugal has been chartered by Liverpool.
Reports in Portugal say the players, most of whom are still on summer holiday, are expected to attend, but Liverpool have yet to confirm arrangements.
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson pays tribute to Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, outside Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, Britain, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson pays tribute to Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
The club, as well as fans and football as a whole, are in mourning after the tragedy.
Mohamed Salah, one of the last players to share his grief on social media, admitted he was dreading returning to the club in the wake of Jota’s shock death.
Some players were due back on Friday to begin the preliminaries of pre-season testing, but the first tranche of a phased return was postponed as everyone at the club continues to try to come to terms with the tragedy.
“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 wrote 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.”
PORTO, PORTUGAL - JULY 04: Locals and family members arrive to pay their respects at the wake of Diogo Jota being held at Sao Cosme Chapel in the town of Gondomar on Friday 4 July 2025 in Porto, Portugal. The Portugal forward died along with his younger brother Andre Silva in the accident in Zamora on Thursday morning. (Photo by Alex Juarez/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Locals and family members arrive to pay their respects at the wake of Diogo Jota being held at Sao Cosme Chapel in the town of Gondomar on Friday 4 July 2025 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Alex Juarez/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A well-wisher leaves a scarf at a memorial for Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota, set up at the Gondomar Sport Clube stadium, where the late footballer began his career, in Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto, on July 4, 2025. Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother died in a car crash in Spain yesterday, sparking widespread grief just after the Portugal star had got married. Their funeral will take place tomorrow in Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto, at 10:00 a.m. local time (0900 GMT). (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)
A well-wisher leaves a scarf at a memorial for Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota, set up at the Gondomar Sport Clube stadium, where the late footballer began his career. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP)
“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.”
Mourners gathered for a wake at the Sao Cosme Chapel, the Capela da Ressurreicao, in the town of Gondomar near Porto on Friday.
Initially held in private for family – Jota leaves a newly-married wife Rute and three young children – it was later opened up to the public, with hundreds queuing outside the chapel.
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes was among a number of club staff to attend the chapel, along with Manchester United’s Portugal international Diogo Dalot.
Nottingham Forest’s Jota Silva, born in Gondomar, and Jota’s former Wolves and Portugal team-mate Joao Moutinho were also among the mourners, with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation Pedro Proenca and Porto president Andre Villas-Boas also visiting.
Well-wishers view flowers, scarves and shirts at a memorial set up close to Anfield football ground for their Portuguese forward Diogo Jota in Liverpool, north-west England July 4, 2025. Liverpool striker Diogo Jota died along with his brother early July 3, 2025 in a road accident in northwest Spain, the Spanish Civil Guard said. The accident occurred on a highway in the province of Zamora. The vehicle "left the road" before bursting into flames, the Civil Guard said, adding that the two passengers, Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Felipe, also a professional footballer, were deceased. (Photo by Mark NAFTALIN / AFP) (Photo by MARK NAFTALIN/AFP via Getty Images)
Well-wishers view flowers, scarves and shirts at a memorial set up close to Anfield football ground for their Portuguese forward Diogo Jota in Liverpool, north-west England July 4, 2025.(Photo by Mark NAFTALIN / AFP)
Members of the media gather outside the cemetery, near the Chapel of the Resurrection, the location of the wake for Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, in Gondomar, Portugal, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
Caption: Members of the media gather outside the cemetery, near the Chapel of the Resurrection, the location of the wake for Liverpool’s Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, in Gondomar, Portugal, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes Photographer: Pedro Nunes Provider: REUTERS Source: REUTERS
The country’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and prime minister Luis Montenegro both attended in person, while members of the Portuguese parliament paid tribute to the two brothers.
Some members of the public embraced and cried before entering the venue as floral tributes of yellow and white and candles were laid by a tree outside.
People held service sheets featuring pictures of both brothers, the largest one showing Jota smiling in his Liverpool shirt and making a heart sign with his hands.
At Anfield, where a temporary shrine has built up, thousands have left flowers, shirts, scarves and cards.
A tearful former Liverpool captain and team-mate, Jordan Henderson, was among those present on Friday, laying flowers and taking a moment to read some of the tributes after signing a book of condolence available in the Anfield Road stand.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 22: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Diogo Jota of Liverpool posing for a photograph with his family at the end of the Premier League match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on May 22, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Jota., his partner Rute Cardoso and child celebrate on the Anfield pitch in 2022 (Photo: Getty)
“Jots it was a pleasure to share a pitch with you but more importantly a friendship. All the laughs we had off the pitch and trying to find ways to wind milly (James Milner) up and get him fined, which we never could,” the England midfielder wrote on Instagram.
“Taking pictures of me asleep on the bus travelling then sending them to me later. You always wanted to have a laugh and were a pleasure to be around.
“I know how much Rute and your family meant to you and I know you will always be looking down on them. Thank you for everything you brought into this world, we will all miss you.”
An Everton delegation comprising Portugal-born strikers Beto and Youssef Chermiti and former midfielder Ian Snodin also attended Anfield to pay their respects and lay wreaths.
A tribute was also paid to Jota at Oasis’ comeback gig at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
During the final bars of Live Forever a picture of Jota was displayed, with the crowd cheering and applauding the gesture.