Wife of footballer Andre Silva issues statement after tragic death of Diogo Jota and brother
The wife of Portuguese footballer André Silva has released a statement to clear up confusion following the tragic car accident that claimed the lives of Diogo Jota's brother, André Silva, 26, and Jota himself, aged 28. The similarity in names led some to mistakenly believe that the RB Leipzig and Portugal striker had died.
Grief continues to grip the Portuguese football community after the loss of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother. The brothers were laid to rest on Saturday in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, following a public wake and funeral that saw an outpouring of support from former teammates and fans alike.
RB Leipzig star André Silva, 29, who shares the same name as Jota's late brother, attended the memorial services. The name similarity caused some initial confusion, with concerned messages pouring in for the footballer and his family.
In response, Silva's wife, Maria Rodrigues, addressed the misunderstanding in a statement on Instagram on Sunday, reports the Mirror.
"I have been receiving many kind and concerned messages lately," she wrote. "There seems to have been some confusion regarding the recent devastating news. I want to clarify that this information is not about my husband, André Silva. Our hearts go out to the families affected by this tragedy. We are thinking of them at this incredibly difficult time."
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André Silva, born in Baguim do Monte—a parish in Gondomar where the Jota family also resided—rose through the youth ranks at Porto before moving on to a professional career that has included spells at AC Milan, Sevilla, Eintracht Frankfurt, and now RB Leipzig, with recent loans to Real Sociedad and Werder Bremen.
He and Diogo Jota shared the pitch 29 times during their time at Porto, combining for seven goals. On Friday, Silva and his wife were present at the Chapel of the Resurrection in Gondomar to pay their respects, laying flowers in memory of the brothers.
Following the heartbreaking news, Silva took to social media to express his sorrow.
"I cannot believe it," he wrote. "We take every day for granted, but life can be brutally fragile. There are no words that will ever do. This doesn't make sense. Only pain and silence weigh.
"We shared moments on and off the field—laughter, sacrifices, victories, and simple conversations that now carry more meaning. You will always be with us, in everything we were and everything we are. You'll always be part of us. Rest in peace, Jota and André."
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