"I didn't attend the funeral because I was worried it would be burdensome."
DIO's star striker Diogo Jota (29) passed away in a traffic accident on a highway near Zamora, Spain, on the 3rd with his brother André Silva. According to local police, the sports car carrying the two brothers lost a tire while overtaking another vehicle, leading to a horrific accident that resulted in the vehicle being completely engulfed in flames.
Jota had dreamed of a happy future after marrying his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso, just 10 days earlier, but an unexpected tragedy struck. Jota, who had been in a common-law relationship with Cardoso for over 10 years, had three children. He had even traveled that day with his brother to attend a long-time friend's wedding when this tragedy occurred.
Moreover, it is particularly unfortunate that Jota, unable to travel by plane due to a recent lung surgery, was involved in the accident while driving. On the 5th, a funeral was held for Jota and Silva at 'Igreja Matriz de Gondomar', a church located near Gondomar in northern Porto, Portugal.
The funeral was attended by the Jota brothers' family, as well as numerous players and coaching staff from the clubs they played for. Players from Liverpool, including manager Arne Slot, Virgil van Dijk, Darwin Núñez, Ryan Gravenberch, Andrew Robertson, and Curtis Jones, were also present.
Also present were Portuguese national team coach Roberto Martínez, as well as Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Rubén Neves (Al Hilal), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Nelson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), João Félix (Chelsea), and other players and coaching staff from the Portuguese national team who won the UEFA Nations League last month with Jota.
Margarida Balseiro Lopes, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports for the Portuguese government, also arrived in Gondomar to attend his funeral. Entry to the funeral was restricted to officials, but hundreds of fans filled the area around the church to say goodbye to Jota.
Virgil van Dijk, who celebrated Liverpool’s 20th championship with Jota last season, appeared at the funeral with a bouquet of flowers featuring Jota's number 20. Liverpool also designated Jota's number 20 as the club's first permanent number retirement as a final salute.
Fellow players who had shared laughter with him just ten days earlier at the wedding gathered at the funeral to shed tears. It was an almost unbelievable sight. Hundreds of journalists from around the world also live-streamed the funeral to pay their respects. The widow, Rute Cardoso, held onto the coffin while sobbing, and the mother, having lost her two sons, was at a loss for words.
Portuguese media outlet 'O Jogo' explained that "more than 40 minutes after the funeral began, not a single person spoke, creating a mournful atmosphere." Liverpool, Jota’s club, decided to pay his remaining salary for the two years left on his contract in a lump sum, estimated at 24 billion won.
Meanwhile, although many key figures from the football community attended Jota's funeral, including the Portuguese president, prime minister, national team colleagues, and Liverpool players, Portuguese national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo was notably absent. Local media, including the 'Mirror', reported that the Portuguese Football Association confirmed Ronaldo would not be attending the funeral.
Immediately after Jota's death, Ronaldo expressed his disbelief on social media, stating, "I can't believe it. We just played together on the national team, and he was a friend who just got married," conveying his deep condolences. In fact, Jota had often referred to Ronaldo as his idol.
Ronaldo's absence from Jota's funeral is being heavily criticized as a disregard for both his responsibilities as a captain and camaraderie. It has disappointed fans and teammates profoundly that Ronaldo, who built friendships and trust over a long time with Jota on the national team, did not appear at a gathering to mourn a colleague recognized by the entire football community.
In particular, while teammates such as Silva, Fernandes, and Neves adjusted their schedules to attend the funeral, captain Ronaldo was reportedly sighted on vacation, leading to local media criticism of his "inexplicable absence" and that "no excuse could adequately address the disappointment."
Meanwhile, the British 'Mirror' reported that Ronaldo is believed to have not attended due to concerns that his presence could shift the focus at the funeral in the small town of Gondomar. Additional reports emerged that the Portuguese media outlet 'Record' stated that Ronaldo has continuously supported the families of Jota and André Silva since learning about the accident that occurred in Spain.
Ronaldo expressed his sorrow immediately after the incident and promised to stand by them until the end, even as time passes and the tragedy fades from memory. His absence from the funeral has sparked criticism for being cold, but it is linked to his past personal experiences. In September 2005, Ronaldo learned of the death of his father, José Dinis Aveiro, during an away game in Moscow, Russia.
At that time, as media attention focused on his personal sorrow, he preferred a quiet manner of mourning due to the shock. It is reported that in the wake of the recent incident—losing to a colleague with whom he shared the Nations League victory—Ronaldo chose to mourn silently.
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