Diogo Jota was laid to rest in Portugal on Saturday morning after his tragic death in a car crash in Spain alongside his brother Andre Silva
Diogo Jota and Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo shared a heartbreaking tribute to Diogo Jota
(Image: PA)
Cristiano Ronaldo was not present at the funeral of Diogo Jota on Saturday morning. Jota was mourned at a service in Gondomar, near Porto, Portugal, where he and his brother Andre Silva were laid to rest following their tragic passing in a car accident in Spain.
Members of the Liverpool squad, along with colleagues from the Portugal national team and past teammates from Wolves made the journey to Portugal to honour his memory. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson were spotted carrying red floral tributes into the church, while Portuguese footballers Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Ruben Neves were also in attendance at the Chapel of the Resurrection.
Neves, who shared the pitch with Jota at both Wolves and for Portugal, was one of those who assisted in bearing the coffin into the church after arriving from the United States, where he had been competing in the Club World Cup with Al-Hilal. However, Ronaldo, the captain of the Portugal team, was notably absent from the attendees at the funeral, which was officiated by priest Jose Manuel Macedo at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar catholic church.
Mirror Football reports that Ronaldo was concerned that his appearance in the small town might inadvertently detract from the solemn occasion dedicated to his teammate and younger brother.
He has chosen to stay out of the public eye recently, spending time with his family.
Ronaldo did, however, share a heartfelt homage to Jota on social media following the heartbreaking news on Thursday.
His message read: "It doesn't make sense. We were just together in the national team, and you had just 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."
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Van Dijk and Robertson were Liverpool's own Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa, alongside head coach Arne Slot.
Also showing their respects were former Reds Caoimhin Kelleher, Jordan Henderson and James Milner.
Arne Slot
Liverpool manager Arne Slot the funeral of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva
Tragically, Jota and his brother passed away when their Lamborghini veered off a road in northwestern Spain, in the early hours of Thursday. Their funeral proceeded after a private wake on Friday, attended by Jota's wife Rute Cardoso and their close kin.
In response to the devastating event, the Portuguese Football Federation said: "Diogo Jota was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person who was respected by all his team-mates and opponents. He had a contagious joy and was a reference point in his own community."
"On behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation and myself, I would like to offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Diogo and Andre as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the respective clubs of the players.
"We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day."