Ruben Neves Joins Jota's Funeral As Pallbearer After Getting Emotional At CWC

Last Updated:July 05, 2025, 19:22 IST

Al-Hilal's Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo attended former teammate Diogo Jota's funeral after his car accident death. Tributes came from football legends and Liverpool players.

Ruben Neves served as a pallbearer for Diogo Jota at his funeral in Gondomar. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo travelled to Portugal to attend the funeral of their former teammate Diogo Jota after an emotional Club World Cup quarter-final against Fluminense on Friday, where they were seen in tears during the minute’s silence.

Neves, a close friend of Jota, served as a pallbearer for the Liverpool forward, who tragically died along with his younger brother Andre Silva following a car accident in northwestern Spain on Thursday morning. Their Lamborghini veered off the road and caught fire.

Tributes have been pouring in for the brothers, with football legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Steven Gerrard, as well as the Prime Ministers of Portugal and Britain, expressing their condolences.

The match between Al-Hilal and Fluminense in Orlando on Friday began with a minute’s silence observed by players and fans in memory of the two brothers.

Neves, who played with the 28-year-old Jota at Wolverhampton Wanderers, posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram about an hour before kick-off.

“Wherever you are, I know you’re going to read this, we’ve never been one for this sort of thing and maybe now I’ll regret it a little, but you know what you mean to me just as much as I know what I am to you," Neves said.

“More than a friendship, we’re family, and we’re not going to stop being family just because you’ve decided to sign a contract a little further away from us!

“When I go to the national team, you’ll still be by my side at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane… you’ll always be there with me, as usual. We’ll keep laughing, making plans, sharing our lives with each other.

“I’ll make sure you’re always there and I’ll make sure your family never lacks anything while you’re there, far away but thinking of us, waiting for us …

“As of today, you’ll be on the pitch with me, and we’ll follow our path together, on the stage where we met."

How Liverpool Players Paid tribute To Jota?

Liverpool’s captain Virgil Van Dijk, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, and manager Arne Slot were among the Liverpool teammates past and present who attended the service in Gondomar for the striker and his brother, Andre Silva.

The English Premier League stars brought two floral tributes in the club’s red colour into the chapel, each shaped like a shirt.

Van Dijk carried a tribute with the number 20 written in white flowers, which Jota wore on his Liverpool shirt.

The other tribute bore the number 30, representing the number worn by Jota’s brother, who played for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...

Read More

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Location :

Gondomar

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