Van Dijk, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves join mourners in Portugal for Liverpool forward’s funeral
Van Dijk, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves join mourners in Portugal for Diogo Jota’s funeral
The English Premier League stars carried two floral tributes in the club's red colour into the chapel, each in the shape of a shirt
Reuters
Published 05.07.25, 06:38 PM
Carrying a red floral wreath bearing his shirt number, Diogo Jota's Liverpool teammates joined relatives and residents in a small Portuguese town on Saturday for the funeral of the soccer star, who died with his brother in a car crash on Thursday.
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Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk reacts at the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, at the Chapel of the Resurrection, in Gondomar, Portugal, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
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Club captain Virgil Van Dijk, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and manager Arne Slot were among Liverpool teammates past and present who attended the service in Gondomar for the striker and his brother, Andre Silva.
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Portuguese soccer player Ruben Neves arrives to attend the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, at the Chapel of the Resurrection in Gondomar, Portugal, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
The English Premier League stars carried two floral tributes in the club's red colour into the chapel, each in the shape of a shirt.
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A person holds a picture of Andre Silva, on the day of the funeral ceremony for him and his brother, Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, near the Chapel of the Resurrection in Gondomar, Portugal, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
The one carried by Van Dijk had the number 20 written in white flowers, which Jota wore on his Liverpool shirt.
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Former Liverpool player James Milner, Liverpool players Alexis Mac Allister and Conor Bradley walk at the Chapel of the Resurrection, on the day of the funeral ceremony of 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 5, 2025. (Reuters)
The other bore the number 30, which was worn by Jota's brother, who played for FC Peñafiel in Portugal's second division.
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Portuguese soccer player Ruben Dias attends the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, at the Chapel of the Resurrection in Gondomar, Portugal, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Dressed in black and with their heads bowed, the teammates entered the church in silence. The only sound was the applause from the crowd outside.
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Rute Cardoso reacts as pallbearers carry a coffin, at the funeral ceremony of her late husband Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, at the Chapel of the Resurrection, in Gondomar, Portugal, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Rute Cardoso, who married her childhood sweetheart Jota only weeks before the fatal crash, arrived with relatives.
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Portuguese soccer player Jose Sa attends the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, at the Chapel of the Resurrection, in Gondomar, Portugal, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Hundreds of residents of Gondomar, a small town in northern Portugal where Jota grew up, gathered outside.
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Portuguese soccer player Joao Felix walks, on the day of the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, near the Chapel of the Resurrection in Gondomar, Portugal, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
The private service was presided over by the Bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda.
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Portuguese soccer player Joao Cancelo arrives to attend the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, at the Chapel of the Resurrection in Gondomar, Portugal, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
In an emotional homily addressed to Jota's parents, his wife and their three young children, Linda said "solidarity in love is always stronger than death".
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Portuguese soccer player Bernardo Silva reacts, on the day of the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, at the Chapel of the Resurrection, in Gondomar, Portugal, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Teammates from the Portugal national squad including Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes, who both play in the English Premier League, also attended the service.
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Former Liverpool Captain Jordan Henderson reacts at the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, at the Chapel of the Resurrection, in Gondomar, Portugal, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
"Jota will always be in our hearts. He will always be present at every breakfast, lunch, dinner, at all our national team get-togethers, at our PlayStation games, at our card games," Silva told Portuguese broadcaster TVI.
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Flowers with a note are placed outside Anfield Stadium, on the day of the funeral of Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota in Portugal, in Liverpool, Britain, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Jota's death at the age of 28 sent shock waves through the world of soccer and beyond, with messages of condolences pouring in from national leaders as well as across the sport.
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A tribute is placed outside Anfield Stadium, on the day of the funeral of Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota in Portugal, in Liverpool, Britain, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Fans continued to lay flowers and other tributes to the striker on Saturday outside Liverpool's Anfield stadium.
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Tributes are placed outside Anfield Stadium, on the day of the funeral of Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota in Portugal, in Liverpool, Britain, July 5, 2025. (Reuters)
The brothers were believed to have been driving to a ferry in Spain to travel to Britain when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames after midnight on Thursday. Police said they suspected a tyre had burst.
Sunday, 06 July 2025
