The football world is still mourning after the heartbreaking loss of Liverpool star Diogo Jota, who died in a devastating car crash in Spain alongside his younger brother, André Silva, earlier this month. The tragedy sent shockwaves through the sporting community, with tributes pouring in from fans, teammates, and former clubs.
Now, Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, has spoken publicly for the first time since the tragedy. Just weeks before the accident, the couple had exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony. Together, they had built a family and were raising three children.
Rute took to Instagram to share a deeply emotional post. In her message, written in Portuguese and translated to English, she said: “One month of our ‘until death do us part’. Forever, your white girl.” The post featured touching wedding photos, including a close-up of the two holding hands and another of them dancing joyfully.
Support poured in beneath her message, with followers offering condolences and strength. Messages such as “You’ll never walk alone, Rute” and “Stay strong, my dear” flooded the comments section.
🏟️ Anfield and Gondomar United in Grief
On July 5, Rute and other family members gathered in Gondomar for the brothers’ funeral. Days later, she visited Anfield, where floral tributes and heartfelt messages from fans had been placed in remembrance. Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot and several members of the first-team squad accompanied her.
The club shared photos from the visit on their official Instagram page, showing players including Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz, and Kostas Tsimikas laying flowers in silence. The post read: “Our squad and staff paid their respects to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva at Anfield today, alongside members of the brothers’ family.”
Rute also left her mark on a special wall mural named “Forever 20”, where fans were invited to leave signatures and messages in tribute to Jota. Nearby, a mural honoring the late forward has now been completed on the wall of the Halfway House pub, just a short distance from Anfield.
⚽ Liverpool Retire the Number 20 Shirt
In an unprecedented gesture, Liverpool Football Club has permanently retired Jota’s No. 20 shirt. Rather than reassigning the number, the club created a new category in their official squad list titled “Forever,” where Jota and his shirt number now reside in remembrance.
🙏 More Tributes to Come
Before Liverpool’s first pre-season game against Preston North End on July 13, the team observed a moment of silence, with special tributes held in the stadium. Wolves, where Jota previously played, are also planning their own ceremonies to honour their former forward during upcoming home fixtures.
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🕊️ Diogo Jota may be gone, but his spirit and legacy continue to inspire countless hearts — from Liverpool to Gondomar and beyond.
📌 Leave your thoughts and tributes in the comments section below. You’ll Never Walk Alone. ❤️
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