Did Diogo Jota's Children Attend His Funeral? Bishop Delivers Emotional Message to Family
Liverpool star laid to rest with brother as Bishop addresses his three young children in moving tribute
The football world gathered in grief on Saturday as family, friends and fans attended the funeral of Liverpool FC forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, in Gondomar, Portugal.
Jota, 28, and Andre, 25, tragically died in a car crash last Thursday when their Lamborghini Huracan burst into flames on the A-52 highway in north-west Spain.
According to Daily Mail, the brothers were travelling to Santander to catch a ferry to the UK after Jota had been advised not to fly due to recent lung surgery.
Thousands gather to honour Jota
Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Gondomar to pay their final respects. Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso, 28, was seen dressed in white, holding a cream rose and placing her hand on her husband's coffin as it entered the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.
The couple shared three young children: Dinis, four, Duarte, two, and Mafalda, just eight months old.
Despite speculation, Jota's children did not attend the private funeral service. In a deeply emotional homily, D. Manuel Linda, Bishop of Porto, delivered a heartfelt message addressed directly to them.
Bishop's moving words to Jota's children
'Dear Dinis, Mafalda and Duarte, children who are not here. At this moment you are suffering immensely or perhaps not because you do not realise it. I will pray a lot for you,' the Bishop said.
He continued: 'The ones who suffer a lot are your mother and your grandparents. Seeing the remains of a child must be a great torment, but when there are two urns, there are no words. But there are feelings. We are here to say that we also suffer. We are here with you emotionally.'
Football community comes together
The funeral service included hymns such as 'The Lord is My Shepherd', 'Hallelujah' and Bach's 'Air on a G String'. As the coffins were carried out, 'Ave Maria' played and the congregation applauded in a final act of respect.
Among those present were Liverpool teammates Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones, Jordan Henderson and James Milner.
Portugal internationals Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo also attended. Neves served as a pallbearer for Jota's coffin.
Notably absent was Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who instead shared a heartfelt tribute on social media. 'It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you had gotten married,' Ronaldo wrote. 'To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. Rest in peace, Diogo and André.'
Private burial and future tribute
After the service, Jota and Andre were buried side by side in a cemetery next to the church, surrounded by olive trees. Floral tributes, including arrangements shaped like their shirt numbers, adorned their graves.
However, police were later called as fans gathered to take photos at the burial site, prompting authorities to intervene, according to Daily Mail.
A seventh day mass will be held on 9 July at 9pm in the same church, offering family and friends another opportunity to honour the brothers' lives and share memories.
A devastating loss for family and fans
Jota and Rute married only recently, on 22 June. Just weeks before his death, Rute posted on Instagram describing their wedding as her 'dream come true' and writing 'yes to forever'.
Liverpool FC are reportedly set to honour Jota's contract in full, ensuring financial security for his young family.
While the ceremony marked a public farewell to one of football's rising stars, the Bishop's words served as a poignant reminder of the private pain endured by Jota's children and loved ones.
As tributes continue to pour in worldwide, fans remember Diogo Jota not only as a gifted forward but also as a devoted husband and father.
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