**Community to Mourn Liverpool Star Diogo Jota at Memorial Event in Portugal**
A heartfelt memorial gathering will take place this Friday morning to commemorate the life of Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota. The 28-year-old, whose career and warmth touched fans across the globe, tragically lost his life in a car accident in Spain alongside his brother, Andre Silva, mere days after celebrating his marriage with long-time partner, Rute Cardoso.
The accident occurred shortly after midnight on Thursday, 3rd July, near the city of Zamora. Spanish authorities report that the Lamborghini carrying Jota and his brother veered off the A-52 motorway in Palacios de Sanabria, subsequently bursting into flames. Early police investigations suggest a tyre blowout as a probable cause, with speed also being considered as a contributing factor. Fortunately, no other vehicles were said to be involved.
Local parish priest, Jose Manuel Macedo, shared that mourners will gather at the Capela da Ressurreicao at 8am for a wake, with a funeral following at 10am on Saturday at Igreja Matriz in Gondomar—a testament to the deep roots Jota maintained within his local community. The sombreness in Gondomar is mirrored in Liverpool and across Portugal, as football fans come to terms with the devastating news.
Liverpool FC has responded with collective grief, suspending operations across club stores, museums, and tours out of respect, and making wellbeing support available to all staff. Manager Arne Slot spoke on behalf of the club, expressing that the loss has left “an absolute sense of shock” among teammates and supporters. He described Jota as embodying the ideals of a Liverpool player: “Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be,” Slot reflected.
Slot’s admiration for Jota extended beyond his on-pitch prowess, highlighting the Portuguese forward’s understated popularity and ability to uplift those around him. The Liverpool boss reminisced about the fan chant dedicated to Jota, realising instantly the special connection he had with supporters: “He was a loved one to all of us… In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this.”
In light of this tragedy, the club has opened both physical and online books of condolence, inviting fans to leave messages of support at the Anfield Road Stand and via their official website. Flags have been lowered to half-mast at Anfield, and tributes in the form of flowers now line the stadium, with notes reading, “Thanks for everything, Diogo.”
Internationally, the Portuguese Football Federation issued a heartfelt statement, mourning both Jota and his brother as “irreparable losses for Portuguese football.” Portugal national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo took to Instagram to share his disbelief and condolences, writing, “Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married… We will all miss you.”
The Prince of Wales, as patron of the FA, added his condolences by extending thoughts to Jota’s family, friends, and everyone affected by the untimely loss. The tragedy has touched not only the world of football but the wider public, with thousands joining together in mourning.
Jota leaves behind his wife, Rute Cardoso, and their three young children. The couple, who began their relationship in 2013, only recently shared footage from their wedding day, captioning it: “A day we will never forget.” Jota was well-known for cherishing moments with his family, frequently sharing glimpses of their life, travels, and even their family dogs on social media.
Having joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, Jota quickly asserted himself as a fan favourite, contributing six goals in 26 games during Liverpool’s Premier League-winning 2024/25 campaign and helping bring home three major trophies in total during his tenure.
The loss of Diogo Jota, an accomplished player and beloved family man, will be deeply mourned by the footballing world, his local community, and all those whose lives he touched. As tributes continue to pour in, both in Liverpool and in his homeland, Jota’s legacy is assured—not just as a sportsman, but as a cherished friend and family man.