Liverpool star Diogo Jota’s devastated widow seen at funeral in Portugal

Less than two weeks since their wedding, the Liverpool star’s devastated widow has been seen at his packed funeral in Portugal.

Tears flowed as the funeral for former Liverpool star Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 26, was held in Gondomar, Portugal.

Devastating images of Jota’s widow Rute Cardoso with his casket have emerged, less than two weeks after their wedding took place together with their three children.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and manager Arne Slot were among those in attendance on the sombre occasion, with mourners crowding outside the church at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.

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A Sky News reporter at the funeral described the scene as “unimaginable grief”, with the bodies of the two men carried out by their distraught family and former teammates after the private funeral took place.

Other Reds players, including Alexis Mac Allister, Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomes, along with Portugal president Marcelo de Sousa and Portuguese national team manager Roberto Martinez are also there.

Isabel and Joaquim Silva, the mother and grandfather of the brothers respectively, along with hundreds of mourners, also gathered following their shock death in a car accident.

Diogo Jota's wife Rute Cardoso (C, R) and her sister react as former teammates carry the coffin. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP)

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk (left) and defender Andy Robertson (centre) arrive for the funerals. (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM / AFP)

(Left to right) Joe Gomez, manager Arne Slot, Alexis Mac Allister and Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool arrive at the funeral. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Hundreds pay their respects to the brothers

Hundreds of mourners lined up to pay their respects at a wake for Jota and Silva ahead of Saturday’s funeral.

There was a constant stream of people arriving for the wake and then for the funeral on a desperately sad day in Portugal.

Friends and family of the two brothers, along with countless football fans, have all gathered to farewell the brothers, who died in a car accident on Thursday.

People line up to enter the church for the wake and funeral of the two brothers. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

World football says goodbye to Jota and Silva

Across a range of sporting competitions held in the days since the horrible news broke, a variety of tributes have been made to the two brothers.

Wimbledon made the unprecedented move of allowing players at this year’s tournament to wear black ribbons at the famously all-white event.

There were moments of silence observed at a number of football matches, including at the Club World Cup and various national team fixtures.

A moment of silence is observed before Chelsea’s clash with SE Palmeiras at the Club World Cup. (Photo by AL BELLO/Getty Images via AFP)

A black ribbon is worn by Francisco Cabral of Portugal at Wimbledon. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Club allegiances put to one side

Liam and Noel Gallagher are huge Manchester City fans, one of Liverpool’s biggest rivals in the modern Premier League.

But that was all put to the side when the band made its triumphant return at a concert in Cardiff overnight.

In a heartwarming twist during their show, the brothers played their 1994 iconic hit Live Forever in honour of Jota.

A large picture of the Liverpool star was shown on a big screen to the 75,000 people in attendance as the band played the hit song.

Players from Everton Football Club, one of the Reds’ fiercest all-time rivals, have also been seen laying flowers and paying respects to the Liverpool star.

Oasis pay respects to Diogo Jota at their concert. Photo: X

Everton players Beto and Youssef Chermiti and former player Ian Snodin lay tributes. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Mo Salah’s devastating farewell post

Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah has penned a devastating tribute to former Reds teammate Diogo Jota.

Ever since Jota joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton in 2020, he struck an immediate rapport with fellow goalscorer Salah.

The duo regularly provided assists for one another, with one of Jota’s final goals for the club coming from an assist from the Egyptian great in a 5-0 Premier League rout of West Ham last December (see below).

It’s understood Salah cut short his offseason holiday in his home country after hearing the crushing news and he took to Instagram to express his feelings towards his former teammate.

Mohamed Salah (left) and Diogo Jota formed a fearsome partnership for Liverpool. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP)

Messages, flowers, scarves and shirts are seen at a Jota memorial close to Anfield. (Photo by Mark NAFTALIN/AFP)

The reigning Premier League player of the year used the heartbreaking word “frighten” to describe his thoughts of returning to an Anfield club that will no longer feature his fellow winger.

“I am truly lost for words,” Salah wrote in a post to his 65 million followers.

“Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break.

“Teammates come and go but not like this. It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there when we go back.

“My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who suddenly lost their children.

Diogo Jota had married his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso on June 22. Picture: Instagram

A general view of the crash site where Jota and his brother Andre Silva died. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

“Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get.

“They will never be forgotten.”

The post has received a staggering 3.4 million likes and almost 32,000 comments.

Jota was travelling back to England via ferry just days after marrying his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardosa, the mother of his three children.

The Kop idol died instantly when his hired acid green $430,000 Lamborghini supercar suffered a suspected tyre blowout and crashed in a fireball on the A52 highway in Zamora province, northern Spain.

The brothers were killed when they were en route to the Spanish port city of Santander to catch a ferry to the UK after the Portugal star was urged not to fly following lung surgery.

On Friday, thousands of tributes poured in from across the football community, with Jota’s former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp leading the way.

The German said: “This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it!

“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre.

“Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!

“All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace – Love J.”

Jurgen Klopp embraces Jota after a win over Leicester City in 2022. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (right) arrives for the wake of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP)

There have also been tributes at a wide range of ongoing sporting events, including Wimbledon and the Club World Cup.

Jota’s grieving wife was consoled by relatives amid emotional scenes at his funeral chapel.

Cardoso – who married the Liverpool ace just 11 days earlier – arrived at Sao Cosme Chapel in his home town of Gondomar near Porto, northern Portugal, early on Friday morning (AEST).

Current Liverpool boss Arne Slot, various Liverpool players and club greats including Steven Gerrard have also paid tribute to Jota’s memory.

– with The Sun