By Bayo Olupohunda Chukwu Ikechukwu
The bodies of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva arrived in their hometown Gondomar, Portugal, for a final farewellJota was travelling by road after being advised against air travel following recent lung surgeryFans, football clubs, and national leaders continue to pay emotional tribute to the 28-year-old star
The streets of Gondomar, Portugal, were quiet on Friday morning, but not in peace. They were filled with sorrow.
The town, just outside Porto, was preparing to receive two of its own, Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva, who both lost their lives in a tragic car accident in Spain.
Their journey home began in the early hours, in a solemn convoy of hearses leaving the morgue in Puebla de Sanabria, near the site of the crash, The Irish Times reports.
Spanish authorities believe a tyre burst caused the Lamborghini to veer off the road before catching fire. Now, the shockwaves of that tragedy are being felt not just in Portugal but across the world.
Residents lined the streets in silence, holding candles, red scarves, and flowers. Many wore old jerseys from Jota鈥檚 youth football days.
The wake was scheduled for 4 p.m. at a chapel in Gondomar, with a funeral planned for Saturday morning.
A Journey that should never have happened
Jota was not even supposed to be on the road.
According to his physiotherapist, Miguel Goncalves, the 28-year-old Liverpool forward had undergone lung surgery just weeks earlier to treat a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) caused by a fractured rib, Sky Sports reports.
Doctors advised he avoid flying for six weeks. And so, he made the decision to travel to England by car and ferry.
Jota鈥檚 wife, Rute Cardoso, was seen leaving the Spanish morgue in tears, holding onto close family and friends, including Jota鈥檚 long-time agent Jorge Mendes, as they made their way back to Gondomar for the final rites.
Tributes pour in for Diogo Jota
While Portugal grieves, so does the global football family.
Outside Liverpool鈥檚 Anfield stadium, children, adults, and fans left heartfelt notes, flowers, and jerseys.
Clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich observed moments of silence during training sessions.
Portugal鈥檚 Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, also paid a visit to the family, calling Jota 鈥渁 source of pride for Portugal.鈥
At just 28, Jota had already left a mark far deeper than goals or assists. He was described by many as humble, respectful, and deeply family-oriented.
In losing him and his brother, the world mourns not just footballers, but two sons, two brothers, two futures.
Diogo Jota鈥檚 last words to his wife
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that on Wednesday night, hours before his life was cut short, Diogo Jota posted a video montage of his wedding on Instagram.
The video showed beautiful moments from his wedding ceremony with Rute Cardoso, the woman he had been with for years and the mother of his three children.
Source: Legit.ng