GONDOMAR, PORTUGAL — The funerals of Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Filipe Teixeira da Silva, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday in Gondomar, a town just outside Porto, Portugal.
Local priest Father José Manuel Macedo confirmed the final arrangements on Friday, after the service was initially scheduled for 4 p.m. that day. The delay was reportedly due to minor paperwork complications delaying the repatriation of the brothers’ bodies from Spain, where they died in a tragic car crash early Thursday morning.
The farewell will begin with a wake at São Cosme Chapel, followed by a funeral mass at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, the town’s main Catholic church. Gondomar holds special meaning for Jota, who began his football journey there and is also believed to have met his wife in the town.
It remains unclear whether the family will opt for a private ceremony or allow public attendance.
The tragic deaths near Zamora in northwestern Spain have sparked grief throughout the global football community. Jota, 27, had recently married his partner, Rute Cardoso, on June 22, just days before the accident. The couple shared three children.
Tributes have poured in from across the football world. Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, club legend Sir Kenny Dalglish, and current head coach Arne Slot have all paid their respects. Teammates also shared emotional posts in honour of the fallen forward.
Alexis Mac Allister wrote:
“I can’t believe it. I will always remember your smiles, your anger, your intelligence, your companionship and everything that made you a person. It hurts a lot, we will miss you. Rest in peace dear Diogo.”
Dominik Szoboszlai added:
“Words cannot describe how heartbroken and devastated we are… Your smile, your love for the game will never be forgotten. We will miss you so much, but you will stay with us forever, on and off the pitch.”
Liverpool has postponed the return of several players for pre-season training in light of the tragedy, and fans have created memorials at Anfield and Molineux, where Jota once played for Wolves.
Saturday’s funeral will serve as a moment of collective mourning and a final tribute to a player admired for his passion, talent, and humanity.
