This Saturday morning, the joint funeral of footballers Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, took place in Porto, drawing a large crowd of mourners and supporters who came to pay their respects.
The atmosphere was filled with deep emotion as family and friends gathered to honour the lives of the two brothers, according to the Portuguese news outlet A Bola.
The families arrived at 8 a.m., followed closely by a host of well-wishers, including former national team coach Fernando Santos, who was among the first to arrive.
Notable attendees included Rúben Neves and João Cancelo, who made a significant effort to attend, flying overnight from the United States after Al Hilal’s elimination by Fluminense in the Club World Cup.
There was a strong presence of current and former teammates of Diogo Jota, with players such as Rui Patrício, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, João Félix, José Fonte, Danilo, Renato Veiga, and the Horta brothers, André and Ricardo, all in attendance. Former players like Adrien Silva also came to pay their respects.
Coaches Nuno Espírito Santo, who managed Jota at Wolves, and Vasco Seabra of Paços de Ferreira were present, along with current national team coach Roberto Martínez and former coach Fernando Santos. The event was also attended by prominent figures in Portuguese football, including FPF president Pedro Proença, his predecessor Fernando Gomes, League president Reinaldo Teixeira, FC Porto president André Villas-Boas, and Boavista president Fary.
The Liverpool squad, led by captain Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, arrived together, accompanied by manager Arne Slot. Van Dijk carried a wreath adorned with Jota’s number 20, while Robertson held one featuring André Silva’s number 30. Both wreaths were placed outside the church.
Former Liverpool players — including Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and Thiago Alcântara — who had shared the pitch with Jota, were also in attendance.
The Penafiel team, where André Silva played, was well represented at the funeral.
The mass, celebrated by Bishop Manuel Linda of Porto, was a poignant ceremony filled with hope, dedicated to the three children of Jota and Rute Cardoso: Dinis, Duarte, and Mafalda.
Following the mass, the funeral procession continued to a private ceremony at the cemetery, where Rúben Neves served as one of the pallbearers for his friend Diogo’s coffin.
Many of those present had also attended the wake the previous day, demonstrating the strong bonds of friendship and solidarity within the football community during this difficult time.
