Massive Turnout for Diogo Jota’s Public Wake In Portugal

Following the terrible deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a car crash in northwest Spain on July 3, hundreds of mourners have arrived in Gondomar, near Porto, Portugal, to pay their condolences at the public wake.

Close family members, including Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, who was married just 11 days ago, as well as VIP visitors like Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, FC Porto president André Villas-Boas, FPF president Pedro Proença, and agent Jorge Mendes attended a private family wake on Friday morning at the Capela da Ressurreição São Cosme.

Around 3 p.m., the public wake officially started, allowing locals and admirers to visit the young men’s coffins and lay flowers.

The Igreja Matriz de Gondomar will host their burial liturgy on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time.

Outside the chapel, mourners have been spotted cuddling and sobbing, while Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has also come to pay his respects.

Locals, especially representatives of Gondomar SC, praised Jota’s modesty and adherence to his heritage:

“He never lost sight of his origins. He even extended an invitation to [old pals] to travel to England to witness Liverpool games”.

Meanwhile, Liverpool FC has canceled all games and hired a jet so that players and club executives can travel to the funeral. Anfield’s flags have been lowered, and condolences from teammates, former managers, and international celebrities are still coming in.

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Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah have all posted heartfelt remembrances. Salah wrote that he dreads and is “lost for words”, especially returning to a team that won’t include Jota.

Across the football world, from Wimbledon players wearing black ribbons to moments of silence at Euro 2025 Women’s games, Jota’s influence transcended club allegiance.

This tragedy has deeply shaken both his hometown and the global football community. The wake in Gondomar symbolizes a heartfelt tribute to a son, brother, teammate—and, above all, a devoted family man who “never forgot his roots.”