Tears As Football Stars, Dignitaries Bid Final Farewell To Diogo Jota, Brother

The Portuguese town of Gondomar was filled with mourning on Saturday as family, friends, footballers, and dignitaries gathered for the funeral of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, who died in a tragic car crash on Thursday.
The funeral service, held at 10 a.m. local time (0900 GMT), took place in the brothers’ hometown near Porto, just 48 hours after their vehicle veered off a motorway in northwestern Spain and burst into flames.
Naija News reports that the fatal accident occurred barely a week after Jota celebrated his wedding.
The emotional ceremony was conducted by the Bishop of Porto and attended by a cross-section of Portugal’s political and football elite.
Portuguese President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, were present, alongside Jota’s childhood friends, family, agent Jorge Mendes, and Porto club president, Andre Villas-Boas.
Hundreds also paid their last respects during a wake held on Friday, filing through São Cosme Chapel with grief etched on their faces. Jota’s grandfather, visibly shaken, was assisted by two men into the chapel as family members held on tightly to each other.
The 28-year-old Diogo Jota had become a staple in the Portuguese national team and Liverpool’s frontline. His younger brother, André, 25, was also well-loved in their local community.