A Short Recap as Family Holds Wake for Jota and Silva

 

A Short Recap as Family Holds Wake for Jota and Silva We continue to mourn the tragic loss of Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva. The pair died in a car crash in Spain early Thursday morning. Jota, 28, had recently married and was recovering from surgery, which prevented him from flying. Tributes are pouring in from across the football world, with flowers laid at Anfield and heartfelt messages from teammates and fans alike. The brothers’ bodies have now arrived in their hometown of Gondomar, Portugal, where a wake is being held. Portugal's Prime Minister and Jota’s agent Jorge Mendes are among those attending. The funeral for Diogo Jota will take place tomorrow morning in Gondomar.

Diogo Jota, aged 28, and his younger brother André Silva, aged 25, were tragically killed in a car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning in Zamora, a province in northwestern Spain. The brothers were reportedly driving back to the UK when their Lamborghini left the road while overtaking another vehicle. Authorities believe a tyre blowout caused the crash. Jota had recently undergone surgery and had been advised against flying, prompting him to travel by car. Only 11 days before the tragedy, he had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso. The sudden and heartbreaking nature of the crash has shocked fans, teammates, and officials across the footballing world. Since news of their passing broke, tributes have poured in. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot called Jota “the essence of what a Liverpool player should be.” At Anfield, flowers and scarves continue to be laid in memory of Jota, with former club captain Jordan Henderson and ex-goalkeeper Chris Kirkland among those who have personally paid their respects. A message from Harvey Elliott’s family was also seen at the growing memorial. Both brothers’ bodies were transported from Spain to their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, Portugal. Family and friends gathered as their remains were received with solemnity and sadness. Their wake is being held there today.

As grief continues to spread, Diogo Jota and André Silva’s hometown of Gondomar has become the centre of mourning. The brothers’ bodies arrived in the Portuguese town on Friday after being formally identified in Spain. A convoy of hearses escorted them from Zamora, where the fatal crash took place, to northern Portugal. Today, the wake is being held in Gondomar, allowing the local community and loved ones to say goodbye. Among those attending are key figures from both football and national life. Portugal’s Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, is present, offering condolences directly to the grieving family. Jota’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is also attending. Outside football stadiums across Europe, moments of silence and black armbands are being seen in tribute. At Wimbledon, Portugal’s Francisco Cabral wore a black ribbon during his match, with organisers temporarily relaxing their all-white dress code in honour of Jota. Jota’s footballing journey was marked by passion, skill, and dedication. Having played for Wolves and Atlético Madrid before joining Liverpool in 2020, he quickly became a fan favourite. Teammates described him as humble and hardworking, someone who lit up the dressing room. André Silva, though less well known, was equally admired by those close to him. The final farewell will take place tomorrow morning. A funeral service for Diogo Jota will be held at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in São Cosme at 10:00am local time. Emotional scenes are expected as Portugal and the wider football world prepare to lay a rising star and his beloved brother to rest. Support continues to flow from Liverpool FC and beyond, with fans using the phrase “You’ll Never Walk Alone” to honour Jota’s legacy. The pain is deep, but so too is the love and respect being shown.

Jordan Henderson fights back tears as he pays respects to Diogo Jota at Anfield Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was visibly emotional as he returned to Anfield to pay tribute to his ex-team-mate Diogo Jota, who tragically died at the age of 28. Henderson, now with Ajax, laid flowers and a Liverpool scarf outside the stadium, joining hundreds of fans mourning the beloved forward. The pair shared three seasons together at Liverpool after Jota joined from Wolves in 2020. In a touching handwritten note left at the site, the England international wrote: “Rest in peace my friend, along with your brother Andre. We will all miss you. Love, Hendo + family.” It was a deeply emotional moment as Henderson, fighting back tears, remembered a team-mate and friend gone far too soon.

See also: Bodies of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva arrive in Portugal for hometown wake

Jorge Mendes and Jota Silva arrive Diogo Jota's agent, Jorge Mendes, has arrived at the São Cosme Chapel in Gondomar, accompanied by his wife Sandra. She appeared visibly distraught as she stepped out of a black car, reflecting the sombre atmosphere surrounding the wake. Also in attendance is Nottingham Forest's Portuguese forward, Jota Silva, who came bearing a bouquet of white flowers as a mark of respect for the late Liverpool star and his younger brother, André Silva.

Everton players lay wreaths outside Anfield Everton duo Beto and Youssef Chermiti, both of Portuguese descent, have arrived at Anfield alongside club legend Ian Snodin to pay their respects to Diogo Jota. The trio laid wreaths in tribute to the late Liverpool forward, joining a growing number of mourners from across the footballing world. Their floral tributes were placed near an Everton scarf bearing the name of club icon Dixie Dean, as well as items from Rangers and Celtic supporters a poignant reminder of the unity football brings in times of sorrow.

More of Jota's family members seen at chapel in Portugal More members of Diogo Jota’s family have been seen arriving at the Chapel of the Resurrection in Gondomar, Portugal the hometown of the late Liverpool star. Images now emerging show Jota’s parents, Isabel and Joaquim Silva, at the chapel where a private family gathering is currently underway. A public wake is expected to follow later in the day. In one touching photograph, Isabel and Joaquim are seen being comforted by Jorge Mendes, Jota’s longtime agent, reflecting the deep personal bonds shared beyond football.

Portuguese president to attend public wake New images are emerging from outside the São Cosme Chapel in Gondomar, where the public wake for Diogo Jota and his younger brother André Silva is currently taking place. Among the mourners is Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has travelled to the small town on the outskirts of Porto to pay his respects. His presence underscores the national significance of the tragedy. Jota, who made his debut for Portugal in 2019, earned 49 caps for the national team and became a beloved figure both on and off the pitch.

'Diogo Jota told me they would stop at a hotel in Burgos to rest' – specialist Dr Miguel Gonçalves, the specialist overseeing Diogo Jota’s recovery, has shared poignant details about his final conversation with the Liverpool forward and his brother, André Silva, just hours before their fatal crash. Speaking to Portuguese sports outlet Record, Dr Gonçalves revealed that he said goodbye to the brothers around 20:30 GMT on Wednesday evening. “His brother was a great companion and decided to go with him, to accompany him on the trip, and that way they would also spend more time together,” Gonçalves explained. The pair had decided to travel overnight to avoid the heat, but had no intention of driving straight through. “They weren’t going direct. He told me that the journey would take about eight hours but that they would stop at a hotel in the Burgos area to rest,” Gonçalves said. “Diogo was very aware of his professionalism.” According to the plan, the two were meant to reach Santander by Friday, catch a ferry to England, and be joined later by the rest of the family, who would fly in. A medical appointment had also been scheduled for Monday in Liverpool to assess Jota’s ongoing recovery. The new details add a deeply human layer to the tragedy, showing the care and planning that went into the trip a journey that was meant to be routine, but ended in heartbreak.