By NATALIE PENZA and DANIEL DAVIS and CHRIS MATTHEWS IN GONDOMAR, PORTUGAL and TOM MIDLANE
A whole lot of mourners lined the streets of Gondomar to pay their closing respects to fallen Liverpool star Diogo Jota on the metropolis’s chapel.
Followers snaked across the Portuguese principality because the tearful crowd queued to honour the Liverpool star earlier than his funeral tomorrow.
Mourners sobbed and carried roses and Portugal nationwide workforce scarves in homage to Jota, who received the UEFA Nations League lower than a month in the past.
Diogo Jota’s heartbroken spouse and oldsters have gathered at a wake and held a vigil on the coffins of the Liverpool star and his brother Andre because the world of soccer mourns their deaths immediately.
Rute Cardoso, who solely married the 28-year-old footballer on June 22, walked into Sao Cosme Chapel in Gondomar after returning along with her husband’s physique from Spain late final evening forward of tomorrow’s funeral.
The city overlooking Porto is the place the couple met and began relationship as youngsters. They married lower than two weeks in the past and have three younger youngsters.
It’s believed the our bodies of Diogo and Andre Silva are mendacity within the Chapel of Relaxation, which is behind the principle church.
It got here as Diogo’s pal, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, wiped away tears as he laid flowers and a shawl outdoors Anfield this afternoon.
A whole lot of mourners queue to pay their respects to Diogo Jota within the Portuguese metropolis of Gondomar
Mourners carried flags and soccer scarves bearing Diogo Jota’s face
The grandfather of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva is comforted outdoors the funeral chapel
The daddy of Liverpool’s Portuguese ahead Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva is conforted by a lady through the wake for his two sons in Gondomar
Isabel, the mom of Liverpool ahead Diogo Jota and Andre Silva, accompanied by soccer agent Jorge Mendes
Portuguese soccer participant and pal Jota Silva (C) who performs for the Premier League membership Nottingham Forest, arrives with flowers on the chapel
The President of Portugal, Marcelo de Sousa, centre proper, visiting the Chapel of Relaxation subsequent to the Sao Cosme Chapel immediately
Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro arrives for the brothers’ wake on the Sao Cosme Chapel within the city of Gondomar close to Porto
Luis Montenegro met kin and laid flowers throughout his 30 minute go to
Diogo Jota’s agent Jorge Mendes was in all black
Again within the UK, outdoors Anfield immediately, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson cried as he laid flowers
He was overwhelmed as he appeared on the flowers and different tributes
Former captain of Liverpool Jordan Henderson hugging with Diogo Jota final yr. Jordan wept for him immediately
The Sao Cosme Chapel within the city of Gondomar. Flowers gifted from Porto FC arrive
Jota’s wake will happen this night after his tragic loss of life on the age of 28 (pictured: Jota alongside his spouse Rute Cardoso after their marriage ceremony only a fortnight in the past)
Diogo and Andre’s mom Isabel, father Joaquim and their grandfather had been emotional on arriving on the chapel. Joaquim hugged a number of individuals and was supported by his brother and later raised a hand to mourners as he left together with his spouse. They returned round an hour later.
Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro additionally attended the wake together with Diogo’s agent Jorge Mendes. The President of Portugal, Marcelo de Sousa, got here later.
The temper outdoors Sao Cosme Chapel was one in all respectful silence and contemplation immediately. There’s a main police presence and officers taped off roads and put in boundaries close to the church. Even on the streets past, within the eating places and cafes of this Porto suburb, the temper is subdued and silent.
Father-of-three Diogo Jota was killed within the early hours of yesterday morning alongside together with his footballer brother Andre Silva, 26.
Their acid inexperienced 200mph £180,000 Lamborghini Huracan burst into flames after a suspected tyre blowout on the A-52 freeway close to Zamora in north-west Spain. No different automobiles had been concerned, police have stated.
The brothers had been on a street journey to the northern Spanish port metropolis of Santander to catch a ferry to the UK after the Liverpool participant and Portuguese worldwide was suggested to not journey by aircraft following lung surgical procedure.
Relations had been filmed embracing one another as they broke down in tears earlier than strolling collectively in direction of the chapel.
The wake correct is about to begin round 4pm, with Portugal’s president Marcelo de Sousa confirming he can be amongst these arriving at the moment to pay their final respects forward of a funeral mass within the neighbouring church – the Igrega Matriz de Gondomar – at 10am tomorrow.
It isn’t but clear how public the wake can be. The chapel and neighbouring church are round a half-hour drive from the church in Porto the place Diogo and his spouse received married lower than two weeks in the past.
Native priest Jose Manuel Macedo initially revealed the funeral would happen at 4pm immediately earlier than confirming yesterday night it had been put again to tomorrow morning.
‘We’re accessible to have fun [their life] with everybody and to share the ache and the Christian hope,’ Macedo informed CNN.
The Chapel of the Resurrection, the placement of the wake for Liverpool’s Portuguese soccer participant Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva
Folks carry wreaths of flowers below police tape below the chapel
Investigators on the scene of the crash close to Zamora, Spain immediately
Soccer followers depart tributes in reminiscence of Liverpool participant Diogo Jota at Anfield Stadium, residence of Liverpool FC
Everton gamers Beto and Youssef Chermiti, and former participant Ian Snodin lay tributes and pay their respects to Diogo Jota at Anfield
Jota and his spouse after Liverpool received the title in Might
It’s understood the delay was linked to minor paperwork points the lads’s family members, who had been nonetheless in Spain till late yesterday, had been making an attempt to resolve earlier than having the ability to repatriate the our bodies.
Gondomar City Corridor issued an emotional assertion late yesterday because it confirmed it had decreed a day of official mourning.
It stated: ‘Gondomar City Corridor expresses its deepest sympathy on the loss of life of worldwide footballer Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, illustrious Gondomar residents who left prematurely, forsaking a outstanding sporting profession and an instance of dedication and professionalism.
‘All through his profession, Diogo Jota stood out for his footballing expertise and for the dedicated approach through which he at all times represented the area and the nation, profitable nationwide and worldwide recognition.
‘Presently of sorrow and consternation, Gondomar City Corridor extends its deepest condolences to the household and pals of those two Gondomar residents.
‘By the use of tribute, the Mayor of Gondomar Luis Filipe Araujo, has decreed by official order a day of municipal mourning to be noticed this Friday, 4 July.
‘Throughout this era, the municipal flag can be flown at half-mast in all municipal buildings and services.’
The mayor described Diogo Jota immediately as ‘a rare expertise and a real ambassador for Gondomar’ the place he grew up and went to high school.
The our bodies of Diogo and his brother had been greeted by heartbroken supporters and applause as their coffins arrived at a church in Portugal forward of their funeral tomorrow.
Mourners will collect early this morning to pay their respects at a wake in Gondomar after Jota, 28, and his sibling died in a fiery crash within the early hours on Thursday.
Dozens had been already standing outdoors on the church final evening and tears rolled down their faces because the hearses transporting the 2 our bodies arrived after 11pm.
The tyre of Jota’s Lamborghini Huracan is alleged to have blown out whereas overtaking one other automobile on the A-52 at Cernadilla close to Zamora, simply ten miles over the border from Portugal. The supercar then got here off the street, rolled and burst into flames.
The hearses carrying the our bodies of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva arrived at a church in Gondomar and had been greeted by heartbroken mourners, a lot of whom had been in tears
The 2 automobiles drove previous the amassed crowd and had been adopted by applause
The hearses departed the morgue the place the our bodies had been held on Thursday afternoon
The acid inexperienced entrance of what seems to be the entrance of Jota’s Lamborghini Huracan lies in conjunction with the street the place the incident happened within the early hours of Thursday morning
The crash, which happened at round 12.35am, additionally ignited the encompassing vegetation. The emergency companies had been known as however the brothers couldn’t be saved. Police have stated they have no idea who had been behind the wheel.
Spanish authorities official Angel Blanco stated the siblings died on the scene.
On Thursday afternoon, hearses had been noticed arriving at a funeral residence within the Spanish city of Puebla de Sanabria, the place the our bodies had been taken after the incident.
Jota’s agent Jorge Mendes was pictured accompanying the participant’s mom as they entered the funeral residence, and he informed reporters it was a ‘very tough’ time.
‘We misplaced two nice individuals. Diogo is an instance as an individual, husband, son, skilled. I nonetheless cannot consider it, it is very tough,’ stated Mendes, in tears.
The hearses later departed for Gondomar.
This morning’s wake will happen only a half-hour drive from Jota’s residence metropolis of Porto, northern Portugal – the place simply two weeks in the past the 28-year-old married his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso in a service filled with household and pals.
Jota and his brother Andre, 26, had been reportedly on a street journey to Santander to catch a ferry to Britain after he was suggested to not fly following lung surgical procedure.
Jota’s brother Andre, 26, was additionally a footballer and died within the crash
Native priest Jose Manuel Macedo stated the wake will happen at Sao Cosme Chapel earlier than the funeral Saturday on the Catholic church subsequent door – the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar (pictured)
Jota is pictured (far proper) together with his spouse Rute and youthful brother Andre
Tyre marks may be seen on the street the place Jota’s Lamborghini overtook a automotive after which collided straight into the crash boundaries. Tragically the crash claimed the lives of the 2 brothers
Liverpool are attributable to begin pre-season coaching on Monday, so Jota was heading again to the UK on a street journey. A Brittany Ferries service from Santander to Plymouth left at 4pm on Thursday, arriving in Devon at 11.15am on Friday.
The soccer membership stated in an announcement that they had been ‘devastated’ by the tragedy and that Diogo’s household, pals and followers had suffered an ‘unimaginable loss’. Flowers and tributes have been laid outdoors Anfield by supporters in tears.
Jota had simply married the mom of his three youngsters and accomplice because the age of 16. He had described himself because the luckiest man on this planet to be her husband, sharing footage of their marriage ceremony day in his closing Instagram publish on Wednesday.
Rute shared extra marriage ceremony day photos in a social media publish and stated: ‘My dream come true.’ Jota then replied within the feedback: ‘I am the fortunate one.’
The pair received collectively in 2013, it has been reported, and have three youngsters collectively – two sons and a daughter who was born in November.
Jota was a part of Liverpool’s Premier League-winning aspect within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, scoring six targets in 26 appearances. He additionally performed for Portugal’s nationwide workforce and helped them win the Nations League final month.
His youthful brother performed for Penafiel, within the second tier of Portuguese soccer.
The Spanish civil guard stated Jota was discovered lifeless on the scene alongside his brother.
Jota’s agent Jorge Mendes was emotional when he arrived on the funeral residence
Two hearses had been noticed arriving on the funeral residence within the city of Puebla de Sanabria
Police are investigating the reason for the crash however consider primarily based on the marks on the street, pictured, a tyre blew out simply earlier than the incident
The vegetation roadside caught fireplace after the incident (pictured)
The couple have three youngsters, pictured at Anfield in Might after profitable the Premier League
‘The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room acquired a number of calls reporting a automobile accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, within the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A automotive was reported to have been concerned in an accident and the automobile was on fireplace,’ they stated.
‘1-1-2 notified the Zamora Site visitors Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fireplace Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Heart (CCU) of this accident.
‘From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Main Care Medical Workers (MAP) from the Mombuey Well being Heart had been despatched, who confirmed the loss of life of two individuals on the scene.’
The Portuguese nationwide soccer workforce stated they’re ‘devastated’ by the loss of life of Jota, including he ‘was not solely a incredible participant with nearly 50 caps for the nationwide workforce, however a rare one that was revered by all his teammates and opponents’.
His loss of life was confirmed by Pedro Proenca, head of the Portuguese Soccer Federation, who stated in an announcement: ‘The Portuguese Soccer Federation and all of Portuguese soccer are fully devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, on Thursday morning, in Spain.
‘Way more than a tremendous participant, with nearly 50 matches for the Nationwide A Crew, Diogo Jota was a rare individual, revered by all teammates and opponents, somebody with an infectious pleasure and a reference locally itself.
‘On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Soccer Federation, I specific my deepest condolences to the household and pals of Diogo and Andre Silva, in addition to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the golf equipment the place, respectively, lined up the gamers.
‘The Portuguese Soccer Federation has already requested UEFA for a minute’s silence, this Thursday, earlier than the match of our nationwide workforce with Spain, within the girls’s European Championship. Misplaced to 2 champs.
The completely happy couple with their youngsters Denis, Duarte, and a daughter born in 2024
They confirmed off their rings after exchanging vows in entrance of household and pals
Jota and Rute depart the church. They later stated that they’d each stated: ‘Sure to without end.’
Jota described himself because the luckiest man on this planet in an interview
‘The disappearance of Diogo and Andre Silva symbolize irreparable losses for Portuguese soccer and we’ll do the whole lot to, day by day, honor their legacy’.
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and received three main trophies with the Merseyside membership – together with the Premier League title final season.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota’s pal and teammate, stated on Thursday: ‘It would not make any sense. Simply now we had been collectively for the nationwide workforce, you had been simply married.
‘To your loved ones, to your spouse and youngsters, I ship my condolences and want all of them the power on this planet. I do know you’ll at all times be with them.
‘RIP, Diogo and Andre. We’ll miss you.’
Liverpool boss Arne Slot penned a touching tribute to Jota, vowing he’ll ‘by no means be forgotten’. He started: ‘What to say? What can anybody say at a time like this when the shock and the ache is so extremely uncooked? I want I had the phrases however I do know I don’t.
‘All I’ve are emotions that I do know so many individuals will share about an individual and a participant we cherished dearly and a household we care a lot about.’
There have been additionally tributes from the likes of Jurgen Klopp, who described Jota as his ‘nice pal’, in addition to Liverpool team-mates Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.
