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Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
From Gondomar to Anfield, Diogo Jota's life honoured by grieving fans
Gondomar's sorrow reflects Jota's deep roots It is often said that footballers live distant lives, separated from the communities that first shaped them. Diogo Jota was different. The profound reaction to his tragic death, alongside his brother André Silva, has reverberated far beyond club loyalties or national borders. Yet nowhere has that grief felt more personal, more intimate, than in the region that raised him. Advertisement Born in Porto and raised in Gondomar, Jota was not just a footballer from the area, he was one of them. His path to the top, which started on a degraded astroturf pitch behind the main stand at SC Gondomar, is etched into the memory of a community that never stopped claiming him as their own. 'You will always be our hero,' read one of the messages penned on a football shirt laid among flowers and candles at his former academy. Another said, 'Diogo and Andre, forever sons of this land.' It wasn't just about football. It was about humility, consistency and connection. As Paulo Goncalves, Pacos de Ferreira's technical secretary, said: 'He was always in touch, always sending us messages, especially in difficult moments.' Photo by IMAGO Advertisement Though Jota's rise took him from Gondomar to Atletico Madrid, then to Wolves and Liverpool, the thread of loyalty to his first clubs never frayed. At Pacos de Ferreira, where he scored his first professional goal and earned his move to Spain, his contribution is literally built into the stadium: 'We call that the Diogo Jota stand,' Goncalves revealed. Even after leaving, he kept in touch with Pacos, offering guidance to youth players and sending messages of support. His involvement was heartfelt, not performative. In Gondomar, that connection was even deeper. His name adorns the academy, his face painted on the side of the main stand. There, local boys Vasco and Goncalo Pereira, both under-eights players, wrapped a Gondomar scarf around their league trophy and laid it in tribute. Their act was small, but deeply significant — a passing of the torch from one generation to the next, guided by Jota's example. A community in mourning The wake in Gondomar painted a picture of communal grief that words can barely encapsulate. Hundreds queued in sweltering heat to pay their respects at the Matriz de Gondomar church. Among them were friends, family, strangers and football fans from all clubs. Advertisement 'He played for my club and I admired him a lot,' said Pedro Figueiredo, a Porto fan who had travelled to lay a flower. 'He came from nothing and worked immensely hard.' Vitor Borges, a taxi driver who had once worked with Jota's mother at a car parts factory, could only shake his head in disbelief: 'Her and her husband overcame a lot to raise those boys. And all of it gone, just like that.' The emotion cut across generations and backgrounds. Elderly women wept, children clutched drawings and notes, and players from the national team, including Diogo Dalot and club figures such as Porto president Andre Villas-Boas, arrived looking utterly broken. One of the most poignant scenes came as Jota's widow, Rute Cardoso, received a bouquet from a childhood friend. 'The sentence got caught in his throat,' the article read. 'He struggled to get the last words of it out at all.' Advertisement Legacy of resilience and humility Jota's story was never one of inevitability. He was still at Gondomar at 17. Rejected by Porto, he signed for Pacos and climbed each rung through grit and perseverance. 'He was a humble man, someone who fought for everything he had in his life,' said Maria Nogueira, a Gondomar resident who waited at the chapel with a bouquet. Her note read simply, 'Thank you, Diogo, for making so many people happy.' In a city famous for its goldsmiths, there is a certain poetry to the idea of Jota being a gem shaped by rough conditions. His humility stood in contrast to the elite world he came to occupy, making his success all the more relatable for those watching from afar. Advertisement His story is a testament not just to talent, but to loyalty, love and effort. To see so many people gather in grief is to understand how truly loved he was, not only for the goals he scored but for the life he lived. Picture:IMAGO Our View – Anfield Index Analysis As Liverpool supporters, the loss of Diogo Jota feels like losing a brother. His time at Anfield was filled with unforgettable moments, from Champions League goals to relentless pressing that epitomised what we expect from our players. But beyond the pitch, it is the kind of man he was that resonates now more than ever. This report from The Athletic lays bare the human story behind the athlete. We've seen tributes pour in from Merseyside and beyond, but the scenes in Gondomar remind us that Jota never forgot where he came from. That humility and authenticity defined him as much as any finish at the Kop End. Advertisement You don't get many players who connect with a club the way Jota did. He understood what it meant to wear the shirt, to represent a city with pride. In many ways, he reminded us of what Liverpool Football Club stands for — family, community, effort and heart. Arne Slot may be leading a new chapter at Anfield, but Jota's legacy will remain part of the club's soul. We will sing his name and remember his joy, tenacity and brilliance. In the words of a Gondomar resident, 'He was ours, in a way.' That sentiment holds true in Liverpool too.
New York Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
‘Thank you, for making so many people happy' – Gondomar mourns Diogo Jota, their humble hero
It was approaching midday and the first-team players at FC Pacos de Ferreira were being put through their paces. They ran and ran under a scolding sun. At the top of the hour, their work done, they walked off, in ones and twos, to seek refreshment and shade. It looked a lot like a normal day of pre-season training. Just around the corner, though, on Rua do Estadio, the club's flag flew at half mast. Visible above the west stand of Pacos' stadium was an electronic billboard bearing a message and a photo. 'Forever,' it read. The photo was of Diogo Jota. Inside the main stand is the old first-team changing room. The floor is green and white checkerboard, the wooden lockers starting to show their age. It was here, in October 2014, that Jota pulled on the yellow Pacos jersey ahead of his first match in senior football. When he left to join Atletico Madrid two years later, the windfall allowed the club to build new a new eastern stand with more modern facilities. 'We call that the Diogo Jota stand,' explained Paulo Goncalves, the club's long-serving technical secretary. Outside, Goncalves pointed to the far end of the pitch. 'That was where he scored his first goal,' he said. He pointed towards the tribune. 'He ran and hugged his mum over there.' Jota only played 45 times for Pacos. When his career clicked into gear, taking him from this modest club to stardom, he might easily have moved on, cut ties. But his gratitude to Pacos — for launching his career, for taking a chance on him when the country's big hitters would not — forged a strong connection. Advertisement He acted as a 'godfather' to youth players during a summer tournament last year, lending advice and support from afar. He would drop in when he was in the area. 'He was always in touch, always sending us messages,' said Goncalves, the emotion audible on his voice. 'Especially in difficult moments.' One thing that has become apparent since the death of Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, is that everyone has a story about him — little examples of his decency, his humanity, his heart. The tales come from Liverpool, from Wolverhampton, from a hundred other places. Travelling through the north of Portugal, though, what really struck home was the regionality of this tragedy. Jota was born in Porto. He spent his childhood in Gondomar, a sleepy satellite city, played for the local team. His grandfather still lives there, down a bumpy path off Rua da Minhoteira. Jota's parents were in the house next door; the kids learnt to play football in the connecting yard. When Jota left SC Gondomar, it was only for Pacos, 30 minutes away. He later returned to the region with FC Porto. His brother played for Penafiel, another local team. Their father, Joaquim, spent his youth in Foz de Sousa, just to the south. Jota's widow, Rute Cardoso, grew up in Jovim. The entire region is in mourning for the loss of two of its sons. For huge numbers of locals, the loss is all the more acute for being personal. Take Vitor Borges, a taxi driver who worked for years with Jota's mother, Isabel, at the Ficosa car factory in Porto. 'Her and her husband overcame a lot to raise those boys,' he said, shaking his head. 'And all of it gone, just like that. No one deserves this, but least of all her.' Or Miguel Pereira, a former neighbour of Jota and Silva, slightly older but young enough to remember kick-arounds at the red asphalt court at the top of their road. He brought up a photo on his phone: his son Vasco with Jota, taken in May 2024. 'It was a year ago but it feels like yesterday,' he said. Advertisement Pereira had come to the headquarters of Gondomar SC to pay his respects. Vasco and his cousin Goncalo play for the club's under-eight team. They recently won their local league title and had brought a replica of the trophy with them to lay down in tribute. They wound a Gondomar scarf around it before setting it down. Gondomar's academy is named after Jota. His face adorns the side of the main stand. On the clubhouse there are images of him as a boy, in Gondomar's shirt, and as an adult, playing for the Portugal national team. On Friday afternoon the site had been transformed into a temporary shrine. There were flowers, candles and scarves, photos and drawings. There were football jerseys bearing messages written in marker pen. 'You will always be our hero,' read one. 'Diogo and Andre, forever sons of this land,' read another. At the back of the main stand is a training pitch, the astroturf degraded, and an old club minibus. Jota played here between 2005 and 2013; there's a good chance that minibus took him and his brother to games in nearby towns, their paths criss-crossing the foothills. On the main pitch, the sprinklers were on. Six starlings perched behind the goal. Through the main gate, more people came: two teenage girls in Liverpool shirts, three young men on their lunch breaks. Pedro Figueiredo, a Porto fan, had felt an urge to pay his respects. 'He played for my club and I admired him a lot,' he said. 'He came from nothing and worked immensely hard.' Eugenia Dias had brought her granddaughter, Bernadita. They laid a hortencia down together. 'Diogo was an idol to the people of Gondomar,' she said. 'My son played with him when they were small, maybe five or six. We're all in mourning. We felt he was ours, in a way.' A sign just off the main route into Gondomar informs you that this is Portugal's goldsmith capital. There are around 450 businesses producing jewellery in the city. Their products are sold around the globe. There is an obvious resonance here. Not just because Jota was a gem but because he needed working; we are not talking here about a sure thing, one of those kids who was only ever going to be a superstar. He was still playing for Gondomar at 17. Porto did not want him, hence the move to Pacos. His was a grinding, blue-collar path to the top. It made it all the more meaningful to those who followed it. Advertisement 'He was a humble man, someone who fought for everything he had in his life,' said Gondomar resident Maria Nogueira. 'He was a symbol of the region.' She was stood outside the Matriz de Gondomar church. It was Friday afternoon, just before 4pm. The public wake for Jota and Silva was yet to start but already a large crowd had gathered. Some people strained for a view of the chapel, for a sight of the family. Others took shelter under trees. When the doors opened, people formed a line. They waited in the afternoon heat: men in polo shirts, men with walking sticks, women with flowers, families. They kissed their neighbours and friends, shared pallid smiles. They came to leave wreaths, to say prayers, to say nothing at all, to be silenced by the senselessness of it all. 'I just thought it was important to pay tribute,' said Fernando Eusebio, who wore a Porto shirt and admitted he did not know how he would react to seeing the coffins inside. Another man clutched a large bouquet to his chest. He said he was a childhood friend of Cardoso, Jota's widow. The sentence got caught in his throat; he struggled to get the last words of it out at all. As the public entered, friends and relatives of the family began to depart. There was a girl, wrapped in a Portugal flag, crying. The Porto president Andre Villas-Boas was ashen-faced, as was Diogo Dalot, Jota's Portugal team-mate. At the chapel's exit, an elderly woman wiped away tears. Her husband stared into space. Their devastation was comprehensible. The scene inside — Jota's parents sobbing, Cardoso stricken by grief — was one of almost unbearable sadness. When the church bells rang at 5pm, the queue was still growing, people arriving at the end of their work days, wearing suits and supermarket uniforms, exhausted but present. They kept coming, too, the line eventually winding around the side of the cemetery, the flow only slowing when the sun had finally begun to tire of its own vigil. The following day, the funeral would bring further emotion. New faces, too: the Liverpool delegation, more of Jota's Portugal team-mates, flown in from the four corners of the globe. Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo played in Florida on Friday night at the Club World Cup and were here at 10am on Saturday morning. It would be a world event — testament, in its way, to football's reach, as well as to the breadth of lives touched by Jota. Advertisement Being here, though, among the queuing locals, it was impossible not to think about roots: those that ground us, that keep us connected to where we come from, if we allow them to. It is obvious that Jota nourished his. Cherished them, too. That, far more than his ability as a footballer, made these people love him. For the family, there is only pain, as raw as it is unjust, a wound they cannot even yet fully comprehend, let alone cauterise. But later, you hope, that will soften into gratitude — for the 28 years they had with him, for the memories, for the beauty he gave not just to their lives but those of so many others. Waiting to enter the chapel and say a prayer for Jota, Maria Nogueira held a bunch of flowers with a note attached. 'Thank you, Diogo,' it read, 'for making so many people happy.' (All photos: Jack Lang/The Athletic; Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Top Photos: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media,, Jack Lang/The Athletic)
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Portugal rose and sang for Diogo Jota as they declared their love for Liverpool's No 20 - the epitome of who they are as a nation, writes TARA ANSON-WALSH
They moved through the streets in silence, placards held high declaring their love for Liverpool 's No 20. The drummer at the front of the troop refrained from using his instrument and the people refrained from using their voices. There were no words readily available to articulate their sense of loss, and so they gathered to pay their respects in unspoken unity instead. The news of Diogo Jota 's death had sent shockwaves through the footballing world, but nowhere were the reverberations felt more acutely than among the Portuguese fans gathered in Bern for the Women's European Championship opening group stage game between Spain and Portugal. 'It's so new, it's hard to believe it's real,' one fan outside the Wankdorf Stadium, wearing a bucket hat embroidered with the Portuguese flag, told Mail Sport. They may have been heading to a women's match, but this was a moment where the entire football community stood together as one. Switzerland is home to one of the largest Portuguese communities – the third largest group of foreign nationals after Germans and Italians – and they raised signs that proclaimed: 'You took the name of Portugal beyond borders. Now it's our turn to raise your name.' Among the crowd there were vintage Liverpool shirts – Gerrard on the back and Carlsberg on the front – on show. There were even a couple of Pacos de Ferreira shirts, the club where both Jota and Andre Silva spent spells. The people moved towards the stadium and went to their seats to fly their red and green flags and sing their songs and never stopped. Even when the world champions struck within two minutes, inflicting the most excruciating of blows. Not even when their team let in four more goals. Both teams wore black armbands, and the fans kept singing, urging them on with unwavering support. In the 20th minute they rose to sing the song of the player who wore No 20 on his back for one of the world's greatest teams. Jota was no stranger to the women's football world either. On International Women's Day last year, he described how Brazilian legend Marta is the role model he hopes his daughter and two sons would grow up admiring, along with tennis legend Serena Williams. As Portugal's head coach Francisco Neto said, Jota was 'someone who followed the Navegadores (Portugal women's team) closely'. He added: 'We had to bring the group (of players) together this morning. It was a difficult moment for everyone. We're deeply saddened – there aren't many words. All we can say is that he will never be forgotten.' One fan, Pedro Macedo, 22, who was from Porto himself, the birthplace of the two brothers, described how he had followed Jota's journey his whole life - from Pacos de Ferreira to Porto to Wolves and then to Liverpool. 'I was brushing my teeth then my mother was in the kitchen and said 'Diogo Jota died'. I thought it was fake news but then I turned on my television and every Portuguese channel was talking about it,' he said. 'It was a shock for me because I liked his way of playing and for me, he was the best example of the Portuguese player. He battled hard, he had good technique and his offensive play was great.' And that's just it. There was an undeniable sense that Jota's people feel that he was the epitome of who they are as a nation. Determined, grounded and compassionate. Another Portugal fan, Antonio Rodrigues, 28, said he found the news shocking particularly because he and Jota were the same age - 'it's like a friend of yours has died'. He added: 'I know a lot of professional players play for money, but he played for Portugal and for his image, and I like that side of him. 'He was a classic Portuguese. We Portuguese love our land and everything that we do is for our land. Today the Portuguese people are here to support our Portuguese team - it's a new thing in the football and we are so connected. 'With these little things we are connected, and we are strong. We are little in country but we are very big in everything. In football, in personality, and you can ask who you want, how are the Portuguese and they tell you what I tell you. 'It's a hard game for Portugal but today they will play with another strength.'
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diogo Jota broke down barriers, embodied Liverpool and never looked back on first promise
When Diogo Jota joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sept. 19, 2020, he vowed to his new supporters, "They can count on me because now I'm one of them." Over the next five years, not only did the Portuguese forward stick to his promise, but he exceeded expectations in every way both on and off the field. Jota's sudden death still doesn't feel real, and probably never will, but his effervescent personality will forever live on and ensure his spirit is immortalized. Advertisement Symbolized by the 'You'll Never Walk Alone' motto, Liverpool's philosophy is unity, strength, passion, and community. Jota was not only a complete forward for Liverpool on the pitch but also cherished those values in everything he did. Liverpool supporters and the wider soccer community will forever admire him. READ MORE: Diogo Jota tributes LIVE: Liverpool forward dies in tragic car accident alongside brother Andre READ MORE: Diogo Jota said heartfelt goodbye to 'best friend' at Liverpool weeks before tragic death As soccer players go, Jota was in the elite category. On May 25, he lifted the Premier League title for the first time, and two weeks later, he became a two-time UEFA Nations League champion with Portugal, embracing Cristiano Ronaldo after beating arch-rivals Spain. Advertisement Despite being viewed as elite, even world-class, Jota continued approaching the game as if he were still a young child growing up in Porto, playing for the sheer love of the game. Whether it was Pacos de Ferreira, Porto, Wolves, Liverpool, or his national team, Jota played with a smile on his face and appeared to appreciate every moment. Those around him appreciated his presence, as Jota was viewed as a radiator in every locker room he ever stepped foot in. While he was a supremely talented soccer player who improved every team he played on, his kind nature and warm spirit helped lift the spirits of everyone around him. Jota finally got his hands on the Premier League trophy this year For those specifically at Anfield, fans don't ask for much. In exchange for their hard-earned cash and loyal support, the 61,000 fans inside the famous stadium want to see Liverpool players give their all for 90 minutes and feel blessed to wear the iconic shirt. Jota never let them down. Advertisement Jota's passion for the game extended past the realms of reality, as he also gained a reputation as an avid gamer. Jota was an extremely gifted FIFA / EAFC player who once spent a week ranked as the world's No. 1 player. The forward broke barriers as he connected with fans in a different space. He regularly streamed his gameplay online and connected with his beloved audience. Jota even invested in the eSports market, creating his own professional team called Luna Galaxy. Jota was the perfect representation of Liverpool, a fitting role model for young fans, athletes, and gamers. He treated everyone with love and respect. There aren't many players adored by each club they represented in their career, but Jota is undoubtedly one of them. Tributes laid at Anfield for Jota after his tragic passing He truly was more than a soccer star, but his glowing personality meant that he was often overlooked for his craft. Jota was a total forward who always found a way to score, as highlighted by the versatility of his goal catalogue. Advertisement Despite being 5-foot-10, Jota was extremely underrated aerially and capable with both feet. During his five-year tenure at Liverpool, Jota scored 65 goals in 182 games, 13 of which were headers, and 19 were scored with his alleged weaker left foot. Another reason Liverpool fans loved Jota was his impact, as 23 of his goals were game-winning strikes. Fittingly, his final goal for Liverpool came in a 1-0 win over Everton, as the Reds closed in on the Premier League title. The soccer world is mourning, and even with the unprecedented Liverpool loss, there is never a fixed timeline for grief. It's a devastating tragedy, one of the saddest in sports history, but Jota will forever go down in Liverpool folklore and deservedly so.
The Herald
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Liverpool FC and fans devastated by Diogo Jota's death in car crash
Jota arrived at Anfield in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club in all competitions. Jota's brother, who died alongside him, was also a footballer, with Penafiel in the Portuguese second division. 'We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day,' the Portuguese Football Federation said. A minute's silence will be observed at all of Thursday's and Friday's matches at the Women's Euros taking place in Switzerland, Uefa said in a statement. 'The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured the name of Portugal, and his brother, is unexpected and tragic,' Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on X. 'I offer my most sincere condolences to his family.' Jota helped Liverpool win the Premier League last season, scoring the derby winner against Everton and also won the FA Cup in 2022 and League Cup in 2022 and 2024 with the Merseyside outfit. Born in Porto, he began his career with local team Pacos de Ferreira before switching to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017. 'We are heartbroken. Diogo was adored by our fans, loved by his teammates and cherished by everyone who worked with him during his time at Wolves,' the club said. Pacos de Ferreira said in a statement that both brothers had left their mark on the small club located east of Porto. 'Diogo Jota became a reference for this club,' it said on social media. 'An athlete with a champion's attitude who reached the highest levels of professional football. His name is part of our history.' He also made 49 appearances for Portugal, twice winning the Uefa Nations League. 'It is a remarkable achievement for a small guy that came from Gondomar, where I had this dream,' Jota said on Liverpool's website of winning the Premier League. 'It's a moment I will cherish forever.' Reuters
