Diogo Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso pays tribute at Anfield with Liverpool FC squad
In images shared on the official Liverpool FC account, Rute Cardoso visited Anfield with the Reds’ squad to pay tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva
Images shared by the Liverpool FC account of Rute Cardoso with members of the Reds’ squad at the memorial site for Diogo Jota and Andre Silva this evening (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Diogo Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso has visited Anfield today to pay her respects to the Liverpool FC forward and his brother, Andre Silva. Rute, who married Jota in a ceremony last month, was accompanied by members of the Liverpool FC squad and the Reds’ coach, Arne Slot, as they viewed the floral tributes laid in memory of the brothers.
Images from the visit were posted on the Liverpool FC official Instagram account this evening. The post was captioned: “Our squad and staff paid their respects to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva at Anfield today, alongside members of the brothers’ family.” Members of the Liverpool squad were holding white and red flowers as they paid tribute to Jota and Silva.
Players such as Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Joe Gomez, Luis Diaz and Kostas Tsimikas can be seen on the images shared by the club. Club captain Virgil van Dijk is also pictured laying the flowers down at the memorial site.
The football world has been in mourning since Jota and Silva were tragically killed in a car crash on July 3 after their vehicle veered off the road following a tyre blowout.
They had been travelling across Spain to catch a ferry to return to the United Kingdom ahead of the start of the Reds’ pre-season. The pair were laid to rest last Saturday (July 5) in their hometown of Gondomar.
A delegation of Liverpool FC players led by Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson were in attendance for the service at the Matriz de Gondomar church in the brothers’ home city in Portugal.
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van Dijk and Robertson carried floral tributes bearing the shirt numbers of Jota and Silva in memory of the brothers. There has also been an outpouring of support in Liverpool after the devastating news emerged last week.
Thousands of people have laid tributes outside Anfield in honour of Jota and Silva. Many former players have also arrived at the stadium in L4 to pay their respects at the memorial site.
Legendary Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard visited on Friday morning, accompanied by members of his academy. In a tribute, he said: “Forever our number 20. RIP Diogo and Andre. Deepest condolences, Steven Gerrard and everyone at Steven Gerrard Academy”.
Former captain Jordan Henderson was emotional as he paid his respects to Jota and Silva at Anfield last week. Delivering a wreath with a note attached, Henderson’s message read: “Rest in peace my friend, along with your brother Andre. We will all miss you. Love Hendo + family xx”.
Writing on his Instagram account on Thursday, Henderson said: “I really can’t believe what has happened today and all I can think about is Diogo and Andre’s family.
“It’s unimaginable the pain you all must be suffering. All of our prayers, love and support are with you now and forever. Jots it was a pleasure to share a pitch with you but more importantly a friendship. All the laughs we had off the pitch and trying to find ways to wind milly [James Milner] up and get him fined, which we never could.
“Taking pictures of me asleep on the bus travelling then sending them to me later. You always wanted to have a laugh and were a pleasure to be around. I know how much Rute (wife) and your family meant to you and I know you will always be looking down on them.
“Thank you for everything you brought into this world, we will all miss you. Rest in peace along with your brother Andre. Love ya mate. YNWA.”
Diogo Jota’s heartbroken wife Rute Cardoso visits Anfield with Liverpool stars to lay flowers and view loving tributes
Rute Cardoso, 28, hugged two children as she looked at the sea of flowers, teddies, scarves, football shirts and messages.
Liverpool players also carried flowers in tribute to Jota, who died in a car crash with his brother Andre Silva.
Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Darwin Nunez were among those in attendance – representing the club alongside head coach Arne Slot.
There will be a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone and a minute’s silence on Sunday at Liverpool’s friendly at Preston North End.
Dad-of-three Jota, 28, and Silva, 25, died when the Lamborghini they were in burst into flames after a suspected tyre blowout.
He had married partner Cardoso just 11 days before the crash.
Police said Jota was driving when he crashed his rental acid green Lamborghini near Zamora, Spain, on July 3.
The brothers were en route to the Spanish port city of Santander to catch a ferry to the UK after the Portugal star was urged not to travel by plane following lung surgery.
They were laid to rest after a heartbreaking funeral attended by his family, friends and Liverpool teammates last Saturday.
Tributes poured in from around the world, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Oasis and Cristiano Ronaldo among those who mourned the loss of the brothers.
Liverpool stars Virgil Van Dijk and Andy Robertson led mourners with two touching wreaths emblazoned with Diogo’s number 20 and André’s number 30.
Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez spoke after the ceremony and described how the days since their tragic deaths had been “really, really sad” but the funeral today showed “we are a very large, close family”.
Diogo Jota’s Liverpool teammates & manager Arne Slot arrive in Portugal ahead of tragic star’s funeral later today
Martinez went on to say it was “essential” for Portugal to show “we are together,” adding the brothers’ spirits will be “with us forever”.
He said: “So thank you very much for your messages and for your support and everything that we receive [from] all over the world.
“Today we are all one football family.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot was there with his players – including Reds stars Joe Gomez, Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister.
Former teammates Jordan Henderson and James Milner were also in attendance.
Some of Jota’s international teammates present at the ceremony were Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Chelsea’s João Félix and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva.
A huge crowd of mourners gathered outside the church and showed support for the brothers’ friends, family, coaches and teammates as they walked in procession.
The service was private, but a live audio feed was played outside the church.
Addressing Jota’s children, who were not at the service, as well as their mother and grandparents, the Gondomar priest was heard saying in the broadcast: “There are no words, but there are feelings.
“We also suffer a lot, and we are with you emotionally.”
