Cristiano Ronaldo Diogo Jota
Image Credits: Getty Images
Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota sadly passed away with the news being confirmed on Thursday morning.
The footballing world was left in both shock and in a state of mourning.
As the football community responded to the devastating news, Liverpool manager Arne Slot led the remembrances of Jota as a “special human being.”
At the time of the collision, the Liverpool and Portugal star was in a Lamborghini with his brother.
André Silva was a player for Penafiel, a Portuguese second division team.
International teammate Bruno Fernandes released a heartful message to Jota and his brother after the passing.
Portuguese captain and teammate Cristiano Ronaldo also sent his heartfelt condolences via the social media platform X, in which he stated:
“It doesn’t make sense. We were only just in the national team together; you had only just got 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’ll always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We’ll all miss you.”
Along with Ronaldo, Jota made 49 games for Portugal and was a member of their winning teams in the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
Due to Ronaldo’s immense popularity in the footballing world, it didn’t come as a surprise when a lot of the talking points were on him when he didn’t attend Jota’s funeral.
He received a lot of backlash from the media because of this.
Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, then took it to her Instagram story to defend her brother.
She stated:
“When my father died, in addition to the pain of loss we had to deal with a flood of cameras and curious onlookers at the cemetery and everywhere we went.
“And attention was not what it is today in terms of access… At no time were we (the children) able to leave the chapel; it was only possible at the time of the burial, such was the commotion…
“It’s getting tiring. The fanaticism. The criticism for nothing, I repeat nothing… Sick society… We all have families…”