Grief in Portugal as Diogo Jota and Brother André Are Laid to Rest After Fatal Crash

Portugal is mourning the tragic loss of football star Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, whose remains arrived in their hometown of Gondomar for burial, following a fatal car crash in Spain.

According to The Sun report on Friday, July 4, 2025, a somber atmosphere filled the air as devastated fans and loved ones gathered in silence at the Sao Cosme Chapel, where the brothers’ coffins were brought for a private ceremony. Among those present were Jota’s grieving wife, Rute Cardoso, his mother Isabel, and their grandfather.

The two brothers, aged 28 and 25, were reportedly driving through northwestern Spain on the A-52 road late Wednesday night, en route to catch a ferry to the UK, when a tyre burst led to a catastrophic crash near Cernadilla—a stretch of road locals say is notoriously dangerous. Their car went up in flames, and both men were confirmed dead at the scene by emergency responders.

A wake will take place tomorrow at 8 a.m. at the same chapel, followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m. at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar. It has not yet been confirmed whether the funeral will be open to the public. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is expected to attend the wake.

Jota’s death is especially heartbreaking for his family, as he had just married Rute 11 days before the accident. The couple shares three children, including a baby girl born earlier this year.

Tributes have poured in from around the world. Football icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, and current coach Arne Slot have all expressed their sorrow over the tragic loss.