By Ellie Ng
Mourners are set to gather to honour Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, a local parish priest has said.
The 28-year-old father of three, who had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso just 11 days ago, died in a car crash in Spain alongside his brother Andre Silva after a Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off the road and burst into flames following a suspected tyre blowout.
The pair were found dead following the crash on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday.
Jose Manuel Macedo, parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, told the PA news agency in a translated message that a wake for the brothers will take place at 8am at the nearby Capela da Ressurreicao before their funeral at the Igreja Matriz on Saturday at 10am.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said the 鈥渟ense of shock is absolute鈥 for the club.
鈥淒iogo was not just our player,鈥 he said.
鈥淗e was a loved one to all of us.
鈥淚 could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals.
鈥淭he essence of what a Liverpool player should be.鈥
Slot said the player 鈥渘ever sought popularity鈥 but gained it anyway and was a friend to everyone, able to make others feel good about themselves 鈥渏ust by being with them鈥.
He said the last time they spoke he wished Jota luck for his upcoming wedding.
鈥淚n many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this,鈥 Slot added.
He recalled learning, when he first came to the club, of the song Liverpool fans sang for Jota and said he knew 鈥渟traight away鈥 that meant the player must have 鈥渟pecial qualities鈥.
鈥淲hen the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song,鈥 Slot said.
鈥淔or the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.鈥
The club has opened physical and digital books of condolence in the wake of the deaths, and supporters and members of the public can go to the Anfield Road Stand reception area over the coming days to sign a message.
The online book can be found at https://www.liverpoolfc.com/club/diogo-jota-supporter-condolences
Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the stadium and all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday, with staff offered wellbeing support.
The Portuguese Football Federation also said it was 鈥渄evastated鈥 to learn of the deaths, adding: 鈥淭heir deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football.鈥
Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking, and a source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed 鈥渁 possible speeding incident鈥 was being looked at.
No other vehicles are said to have been involved in the incident.
Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle.
Liverpool fans started leaving tributes outside Anfield on Thursday morning, with flowers being laid with messages including 鈥淭hanks for everything, Diogo鈥.
Jota was part of Liverpool鈥檚 Premier League-winning side in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring six goals in 26 appearances.
He joined the Merseyside club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, winning three major trophies.
Portugal national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo said he wishes Jota鈥檚 family 鈥渁ll the strength in the world鈥 following the Liverpool forward鈥檚 death.
A translated version of his message on Instagram said: 鈥淒oesn鈥檛 make any sense.
鈥淛ust now we were together in the national team, just now you were married.
鈥淭o your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world.
鈥淚 know you will always be with them. R.I.P. Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.鈥
The Prince of Wales, patron of the FA, said he was 鈥渄eeply saddened鈥 to hear of Jota鈥檚 death, adding: 鈥淥ur thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew him.鈥
Jota and his wife got together in 2013, it has been reported, and have three children together 鈥 two sons and a daughter who was born in November.
He frequently shared pictures of himself and his family on his Instagram account, while his wife has posted images of their holidays in Dubai and Lapland.
They also have three pet beagles.
On Wednesday, Jota and Cardoso, 28, posted video footage of their wedding, with the caption: 鈥淎 day we will never forget.鈥