Footballers from all over the world gathered in Gondomar, Portugal, to attend the funeral of Diogo Jota.
Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, a professional footballer for the Portuguese club Penafiel, died on Thursday in a traffic accident in Zamora, Spain.
The Liverpool striker, 28-year-old Jota, was travelling back to England for the start of pre-season preparations after being advised not to fly due to minor surgical procedures.
The commemoration was held at the Chapel of the Resurrection in Gondomar, a suburb of Porto. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and defender Andy Robertson carried wreaths with the numbers 20 and 30 – the shirt numbers of Jota and Silva. Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was also seen with the team.
Jota’s teammates from the Portuguese national team, Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo, who played for Al Hilal at the Club World Cup in Florida on Friday, were also present.
Many other Portuguese national team players also paid their respects, including Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Danilo Pereira, Jose Sa, and Joao Felix.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot and Portugal national team coach Roberto Martinez were also present, as well as Jota’s former Wolverhampton coach, Nuno Espirito Santo.
Last season, Jota won the Premier League with Liverpool and the Nations League with Portugal, after which he married Rute Cardoso in his hometown of Porto at the end of June. The couple has three children.
On Thursday, Liverpool opened an online and physical book of condolences, with former captain Jordan Henderson and United Kingdom (UK) Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner among the first to sign, paying tribute at Anfield Stadium.
