João Cancelo and Rúben Neves Pay Tribute to Diogo Jota in a Touching Silence at the Club World Cup

July 5, 2025 dailymirror

JOAO CANCELO and Ruben Neves were profoundly moved as the Club World Cup paid tribute to their late teammate Diogo Jota.

The former Liverpool star tragically lost his life in a car accident on Thursday, along with his younger brother, Andre Silva.

Soccer players standing on a field amidst a large stadium crowd. — A moment of silence was observed for Diogo Jota and Andre Silva before Al-Hilal’s match with Fluminense.

João Cancelo in tears. — Ruben Neves was visibly emotional, having played nearly 164 matches alongside Jota throughout the last ten years.

Al Hilal soccer players observing a moment of silence. — Neves found comfort in his teammates’ support during this challenging period.
Credit: Getty

Close-up of João Cancelo appearing distressed. — João Cancelo, who also hails from Portugal, was notably affected by the sorrowful loss of Jota.

Jota, just 28 years old, had played many matches with Cancelo and Neves for the Portuguese national team, most recently celebrating victory in the Nations League merely a month ago.

Cancelo has played 32 matches with the beloved forward, while Neves has partnered with him in 164 contests over the past decade at both Porto and Wolves, as well as through various age groups of the national team.

The duo joined their teammates to honor Jota before the Club World Cup quarter-final.

During the moment of silence, both Cancelo and Neves were visibly emotional.

Players and staff from Fluminense also participated in the moment of reflection, wearing black armbands as a mark of respect.

The football community stands united in sorrow following this heartbreaking event.

Just 11 days before the tragic accident, Jota had married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso.

The couple leaves behind three young children.

Tributes have flowed in from notable figures like Prince William and Cristiano Ronaldo, joining the many who are mourning his passing.

A Wimbledon star honors Diogo Jota by wearing a black ribbon, as SW19 officials relax the strict dress codes.

Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson visited Anfield on Friday to pay his respects by laying a wreath in memory of the recently crowned Premier League champion.

The current captain of the Reds, Virgil van Dijk, remarked: “What an incredible person, what a player, but most importantly, an outstanding family man. My heart goes out to your beautiful family, especially Rute and your children. I vow: during these tough times and beyond, we will always be here for your family.”

Illustration of Diogo Jota's career statistics, showcasing games played and goals scored for various clubs and the national team.

“A champion forever, number 20 forever. It has been an honor to share the field with you and to be your friend beyond that.”

Liverpool has announced plans to “immortalize” his No. 20 jersey.

A wake was held on Friday to celebrate the memories of the brothers, attended by Liverpool players such as Darwin Nunez.

Their funerals will take place in their hometown of Gondomar near Porto at 10 AM on Saturday.

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