Pedro Neto has dedicated Chelsea's FIFA Club World Cup final victory to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva
Pedro Neto of Chelsea FC celebrates following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium
Pedro Neto of Chelsea FC celebrates following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium
(Image: 2025 FIFA)
Pedro Neto has dedicated Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup win to Liverpool striker Diogo Jota, Andre Silva and the Portuguese brothers’ families. Enzo Maresca’s side won 3-0 against reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday (July 13) to win the inaugural edition of the expanded tournament.
A Cole Palmer brace and further strike from Joao Pedro clinched a convincing victory for the Londoners over the Parisians, who had Joao Neves sent off late on. Neto started the game for Chelsea and completed 78 minutes as they were crowned champions of the world.
The Portuguese earlier made headlines during the tournament as he walked out carrying a shirt bearing the names of both Jota and Silva, who played for Penafiel, ahead of Chelsea’s quarter-final win over Palmeiras.
The brothers had been killed in a car accident in Spain the previous day, with Chelsea’s Club World Cup commitments preventing the Neto from flying back to Portugal for their funeral.
The 25-year-old has paid tribute to Jota and Silva numerous times since as Chelsea continued in the tournament.
And having already made it clear he wanted to win the tournament in memory of the brothers, he has now dedicated the trophy to the pair after delivering on his promise.
“I said I would win it for Diogo and Andre,” Neto said after the final whistle. “This one is for them and their families, and we are really happy.”
Neto also took to Instagram to dedicate the victory to his Portugal and former Wolves team-mate, Jota, as he wrote: “This one’s for you partner D”.
He also posted a dove emoji and white heart emoji at the end of the caption.
Ahead of the final, Neto has opened up on his grief following Jota’s passing in an emotional ‘Club World Cup diary’ entry on the club’s website.
“When I step onto the pitch on Sunday, know that I want to win this competition for Diogo Jota,” he wrote.
“He will always be with me. He will always be remembered. My thoughts are still with him, his brother Andre Silva, and their families. It’s such a difficult moment.
“Diogo immediately stood out to me when I came to England. I was very young and arriving in a new country, and he was one of the key players at Wolves. But he helped me and my family a lot, and I learned so much from him about life and football.
“Diogo was part of our group of Portuguese players – there were quite a lot of us! Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Ruben Vinagre, Rui Patricio, myself, and Diogo. We were so close and spent a lot of time together off the pitch.
“We are still in contact now and these guys, and the memories I have, will stay with me for the rest of my life. It’s why it’s so tough to now be without Diogo.
“He was a warrior, a guy who would always be ready to fight for you. Yet he had this big smile and his laugh…it is one of the things that I will always remember.
“When I heard the news, I spoke with the coach and everyone was very supportive. We had the game against Palmeiras and it didn’t make sense for me not to play. With the personality Diogo had – something else that will always stay with me – I think he would’ve wanted us to play.
“I have this feeling that Diogo is still protecting everyone who was close to him. It’s why I want to be a warrior for him. Sunday is no different.
“It will be my second final with Chelsea, and we can be crowned world champions. That is the focus. I want to win. I want to win it for Diogo.”