Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother were laid to rest on Saturday in their hometown just days after their pair died in a car crash that shocked the football world. Jota, 28, and Andre Silva, 25, were killed on Thursday after their vehicle veered off a motorway in northwestern Spain and became engulfed in flames, a week after the Portugal forward had gotten married. Just hours before the accident, Jota posted a video of his June 22 wedding to partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children.
Among those who came to offer their condolences were a childhood friend, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, Jota’s agent Jorge Mendes and Porto club president Andre Villas-Boas. Jota formerly played with Porto.
“Football is truly in mourning. Diogo was an icon of the talent Portuguese football represents,” said football federation chief Pedro Proenca.
