A City Mourns: Football Family Says Goodbye to Diogo Jota and André Silva

A packed church in Gondomar witnessed an emotional farewell to footballers Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who died in a tragic car crash in Spain just days earlier.

A Sea of Mourning

The bishop of Porto led the service, with the church overflowing and many forced to listen from outside due to the massive turnout.

Friends and teammates from Gondomar FC, where both brothers began their careers, carried the urns in a solemn procession.

Liverpool FC and Portugal National Team Pay Respects

Liverpool FC players attended the funeral, with captain Virgil Van Dijk carrying a red floral arrangement shaped like a football shirt with Jota's number 20. Teammate Andrew Robertson carried a similar arrangement with Silva's number 30.

Portugal's national team coach Roberto Martínez was also present, stating:

"These are very sad days. Today was a reminder that we are a family."

However, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota's national team captain, was notably absent, reportedly to avoid drawing attention away from the somber event.

The Tragic Accident

The crash occurred near Zamora, Spain, early Thursday morning. The brothers were driving a Lamborghini that crashed and caught fire while overtaking another vehicle. Spanish officials believe a tire blew out, but the investigation continues.

A Life Cut Short

Jota's death came just two weeks after he married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children. The news shocked the worlds of sports, entertainment, and politics, with tributes pouring in from around the globe.