Portugal stood still this week, and so did the footballing world. The tragic loss of Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre in a car crash sent shockwaves across the world.
From Lisbon to Liverpool, and all the way to Riyadh, grief had no borders. But no one wore their sorrow more visibly than Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo.
The two Portuguese stars travelled home to attend the funeral of their close friend and teammate, Diogo Jota. It was more than just a tribute. For Neves and Cancelo, it was family.
The service took place in Gondomar, Jota’s hometown, where friends, family, and footballing greats gathered to say goodbye.
Neves, heartbroken, served as one of the pallbearers. Cancelo, equally devastated, stood by his side.
Both players had broken down during the minute of silence before Al Hilal’s Club World Cup match against Fluminense. Their faces said more than any words could (via DAZN).
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The bond between Neves and Jota wasn’t just built on the pitch. It was deeper. They shared locker rooms at Wolves, jerseys for Portugal, and memories that will now echo in silence. Neves took to Instagram before the match to share his pain.
“More than a friendship, we’re family,” he wrote. “When I go to the national team, you’ll still be by my side… You’ll always be there with me, as usual.”
It was a post that stopped time for anyone who read it. A raw expression of love and loss.
Cancelo, who also shared the pitch with Jota for the national team, could barely stand during the silence. Cameras caught him on his knees, face buried, trying to process a moment no footballer ever wants to face.
Liverpool’s presence at the funeral said it all. Captain Virgil van Dijk and others brought floral tributes — one shaped like Jota’s No. 20 jersey, another for Andre’s No. 30 at FC Penafiel. It was a silent yet strong message of respect.
As for the match, football seemed secondary. Al Hilal’s loss to Fluminense ended their Club World Cup run, but the day wasn’t about wins or losses. It was about remembering a teammate, a brother, a soul taken too soon.
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