Pedro Neto (25, Chelsea) dedicated the championship trophy to the late Diogo Jota (age 28 at the time of his passing).
Chelsea secured a 3-0 victory against PSG in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, on the 14th (Korea time). This win marked Chelsea's second title in the 2024-2025 season, following their victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL).
The Club World Cup has been held annually until now, but starting from this tournament, it will be held every four years, just like the World Cup. The number of participating teams has changed to 32. The prize money has also significantly increased to a total of $1 billion (approximately 1.3782 trillion won). Thanks to this, Chelsea hit a 'jackpot' amounting to £92 million (approximately 171.1 billion won), including the championship prize.
It was a one-sided match. Chelsea scored three goals in the first half alone, taking control of the game early on. Cole Palmer scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist, dismantling PSG. PSG attempted a counterattack in the second half, but they were dealt another blow when João Neves received a red card for pulling the opponent's hair late in the game, leading to their scoreless defeat.
Neto, who started as the left winger, contributed to Chelsea's victory by running the pitch for about 78 minutes. After the match, he shared a photo on social media holding the Club World Cup trophy, expressing his joy: "World champion, I can't describe how this feels. The support was truly amazing. Thank you, Chelsea fans."
At the same time, he did not forget his late colleague Jota, who tragically passed away in a recent accident. Neto wrote, "This victory is for you. Partner D," dedicating the win to Jota, who he believes is watching from above.
Jota passed away on the 3rd due to a sudden car accident, along with his brother André Silva. He was reportedly traveling from northern Spain to Santander, planning to take a ferry back to the UK. However, he died in a car accident that occurred on the A-52 highway near Zamora in Spain.
According to police, the accident occurred at 12:30 a.m. local time. The Lamborghini vehicle carrying Jota and Silva veered off the road after a tire burst while overtaking another vehicle. The car was engulfed in flames and completely burnt, taking the lives of both individuals at the scene.
The funerals for Jota and Silva were held in Gondomar, Portugal, their hometown. The two were buried at a church in Gondomar, and many football figures attended the privately held funeral.
Liverpool teammates Virgil van Dijk, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Andy Robertson, and Jota's colleagues from the Portugal national team sent him on his final journey. Rúben Neves also flew in from the U.S. immediately after finishing the Club World Cup schedule to help carry the casket of his deceased friend.
Images of Jota's wife crying in front of the casket further added to the sorrow. Bishop Dom Manuel Linda, who presided over the funeral, noted, "It is hard to see adults crying. Children even more so. The grief experienced by Jota's mother and grandparents is beyond words. Seeing the remains of a child is a greater pain, yet in a situation with two coffins, it’s difficult to find even comforting words."
What makes Jota's death even more tragic is that he had just married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso, about ten days earlier. They began dating in 2012 and have three children together. Last week, they officially tied the knot at a church in Braga, northern Portugal. However, the joyful wedding video Jota shared has become his final post on social media before his passing.
However, Neto was unable to attend his friend's funeral as he was tied up with the Club World Cup schedule. Instead, he honored Jota and Silva by wearing a jersey with their names on it before the 8th group stage match against Palmeiras. He was seen trying to hold back tears during a moment of silence.
He ignited his determination to win in memory of Jota, whose death hit harder because they played together at Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Portugal national team. He commented, "Jota helped me a lot since I arrived in England when I was very young. I learned a lot from him, not just in football but in life. We were really close, and we spent a lot of time together outside the pitch. Life without him is incredibly tough. The memories we shared will stay in my heart for a lifetime."
Grieving the loss of his dear friend, Neto expressed before the final match, "I want to win the Club World Cup for Jota. He will always be with me and will be remembered forever. I send my condolences to the family. This is a truly tough time" and affirmed, "I will become Jota's warrior. The match against PSG on Sunday will be no different."
Neto successfully kept his promise, once again honoring Jota. Chelsea also posted a photo of Neto roaring, captioned, "For Jota."
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (No unauthorized copying or redistribution), Pedro Neto, Sports social media.
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