Ruben Neves flew across the Atlantic to bid an emotional farewell to his former teammate and close friend Diogo Jota. The Al Hilal midfielder arrived in Portugal just hours after featuring in the Club World Cup against Manchester City in the United States. Without any delay, he boarded a private jet and traveled straight to Gondomar, where he joined thousands mourning the tragic deaths of Jota and his brother André Silva.
Neves, who shared the pitch with Jota at both FC Porto in Portugal and Wolverhampton Wanderers in England, served as one of the pallbearers during the solemn funeral held on Saturday at Igreja Matriz. The gesture highlighted the bond between the two players, throughout years of shared battles in both Portuguese and English football. From Porto B to the Premier League, they played over 100 matches together, helping Wolves secure promotion and stability in the top tier of English football.
The service drew a wide circle of mourners. Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk carried a red floral tribute shaped like a football shirt marked with Jota’s number 20. Teammate Andrew Robertson brought a similar arrangement for André Silva, with the number 30 he wore at Penafiel.
The funeral began at 11 in the morning as church bells rang through the town. The caskets of both brothers were carried from an adjacent chapel into the church, followed by relatives, friends, and hundreds of community members, including players from Gondomar FC, where Jota’s football journey began at the age of nine.
Portugal’s national team coach Roberto Martínez attended the ceremony, along with top players such as Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, and Bruno Fernandes. The bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda, led the mass in a church filled to capacity, with dozens more listening from outside.
Jota, aged 28, and Silva, 25, died early Thursday near Zamora in northwestern Spain when their Lamborghini crashed and burst into flames. Authorities have confirmed that no other vehicle was involved and suspect a tire blowout may have caused the accident. The brothers were reportedly on their way to catch a boat to England, where Jota was due to rejoin Liverpool following the summer break.
Their bodies were returned to Portugal and a wake was held on Friday. Jota had married his long-time partner Rute Cardoso just two weeks earlier during his time off. The couple had three children, the youngest born last year.
The remarkable show of support at the funeral and Ruben Neves’ journey across continents reflected the deep respect Jota commanded within the football world and the close relationships he formed throughout his career.