Ruben Neves was among the mourners at the funeral of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, following their tragic deaths in a car accident earlier this week
16:04, 05 Jul 2025
Ruben Neves arrives for Diogo Jota's funeral
Portugal's Ruben Neves was a pallbearers(Image: PA)
Ruben Neves was spotted among the mourners in Gondomar on Saturday morning, paying his respects at the funeral of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, who tragically lost their lives in a car crash.
The sudden death of Jota, 28, and Andre, 26, has sparked a wave of mourning across Portugal, amongst Jota's team-mates and throughout the international football community.
Neves, who shared the pitch with Jota at Wolves and for the Portugal national squad, travelled to Portugal just hours after turning out for Al Hilal in the Club World Cup in America on Friday night.
Neves and Joao Cancelo, who is also currently playing for Al Hilal, were present at the funeral, with Neves taking on the role of one of the pallbearers.
Liverpool players and staff, including Virgil van Dijk and Arne Slot, also journeyed to offer their condolences.
Rute Cardoso, Wife of Diogo Jota, leans on the arm of Ruben Neves, football player for Alhilal Saudi Club and the Portugal national team, as the coffin of Diogo Jota is carried out of the Church after a funeral held for Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar on July 05, 2025 in Gondomar, Portugal. Diogo Jota was a professional football player for Liverpool FC and the Portuguese national team, while Andre Silva played for FC Penafiel in Portugal's second tier. The brothers died in a car accident in the province of Zamora, Spain, on July 3.
Ruben Neves was a close friend of Diogo Jota(Image: Getty Images)
Article continues below
The Al Hilal pair were visibly moved during a minute's silence observed in Jota's honour before their Club World Cup quarter-final match against Fluminense, reports the Express.
Jota and Andre were laid to rest in a private ceremony in their hometown on Saturday, with hundreds of locals congregating outside the chapel to pay their respects.
Neves and Jota had a long-standing bond, having both emerged from FC Porto before transferring to Wolves in the same window. Among the many heartfelt tributes paid to Jota over the past two days, Neves' stood out.
Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota at Wolves
Ruben Neves of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Diogo Jota(Image: Getty Images)
In a touching tribute to his mate, he 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.
"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 join 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.
Article continues below
"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.
"Diogoal, you are my favourite lemonade! ! Amo-te."