Summary

  • Mourners have attended the funeral of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in their hometown of Gondomar, Portugal

  • Family members and leading football figures were seen filing into the church, as hundreds gathered outside to pay their respects

  • There is a shared sombreness as teammates past and present walk in together, writes reporter Sofia Ferreira Santos

  • The brothers died in a car crash in Spain on Thursday - officials say it went off the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle

  • The Liverpool forward, 28, married his long-term partner just 11 days before the crash - they have three children

Media caption,

Watch as Liverpool teammates arrive to pay their respects

  1. Having lived, Diego Jota and André Silva leave Gondomar a better place, say mournerspublished at 14:03 British Summer Time 5 July

    Matt Graveling
    Sports reporter, in Gondomar

    Red wreaths in the shape of football jerseys, one with the number 20 and the other with the number 30, are displayed at the entrance of a cemeteryImage source, Getty Images

    The service in Gondomar is now over, but as the barriers are removed, people are still making their way into the church cemetery where earlier a private ceremony was held to lay the brothers to rest.

    One by one mourners are filing past the brothers' graves.

    On top sit two red shirts - floral tributes carried into the church earlier by Liverpool players Virgil Van Dijk and Andy Robertson. They feature the numbers 20 and 30, worn by Diogo and André.

    There’s a small card, containing a message from Liverpool Football Club, which ends with the words: "You’ll Never Walk Alone."

    As the streets of Gondomar clear of visitors, and it returns to the quiet town it once was, it does so without two of its most famous sons.

    But people here say they have left this community in a better place for having lived.

    We're ending our live coverage now. You can read more about the brothers' funeral here.

  2. From Anfield to Gondomar, mourners gather to remember Liverpool star Diogo Jotapublished at 13:56 British Summer Time 5 July

    Diogo Jota celebrating scoring a goal on the pitchImage source, Getty Images

    Relatives and fans of 28-year-old Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota have honoured the lives of him and his brother André Silva today.

    The brothers died in a car crash in Spain on Thursday. Officials say it went off the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle. The news left the football world in shock - many left tributes at the clubs where he had played.

    Jota was on his way back to Liverpool for pre-season training, making the trip by car and ferry because he had undergone minor surgery so doctors advised him against flying.

    He had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children, just 11 days before.

    Mourners attended the brothers' funeral in their hometown Gondomar on Saturday. As Diogo Jota's teammates joined his relatives to mourn the Liverpool star, hundreds gathered outside the Igreja Matriz to pay their respects.

    People were stood in silence in the streets as they listened to an audio broadcast of the service, writes sports reporter Matt Graveling. Meanwhile, grieving fans told our reporter Sofia Ferreira Santos that witnessing the ceremony was hard but beautiful.

    For Liverpool manager Arne Slot, “Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special” - a sentiment echoed in countless other tributes shared over the last few days.

  3. Tributes stretch entire length of main stand at Anfieldpublished at 13:47 British Summer Time 5 July

    Phil McCann
    Senior reporter, North West Tonight, in Liverpool

    The back of fans looking over a tribute made to Diego Jots outside Anfield StadiumImage source, Reuters

    This is a city where footballers are lionised whilst at the same time being treated as part of the family. That's why so many people told us they felt like they’d lost a family member here today.

    People also told me that for their children, this was their first experience of loss. So many have come that the flowers, shirts and scarves that have been left stretch the entire length of the main stand at Anfield.

    Among the messages - two common themes - one referring to his shirt number can be seen on lots of cards: Forever 20.

    The other, a phrase that's an integral part of the psyche of this club which takes on extra poignancy at the times of tragedy these fans have learned to deal with: You’ll Never Walk Alone.

  4. 'A dream to work with - a pleasure to call friend'published at 13:19 British Summer Time 5 July

    Adwaidh Rajan
    BBC Sport

    Conor Coady and Diogo JotaImage source, Getty Images

    As mourners continue to gather in Gondomar, we've been speaking to one of Diogo Jota's former teammates.

    The forward was "a dream to work with and a pleasure to call a friend", according to Conor Coady, who was Wolverhampton Wanderers captain during the Portuguese forward's three seasons at the club.

    Coady is now playing for Leicester City, and says he heard about his friend's death while at pre-season training.

    "This has hit everybody hard. And it will hit everybody hard for a long, long time because Diogo was a fantastic human being, an amazing friend, an amazing husband, an amazing father and an absolutely incredible footballer for all the clubs he has played for," he explains.

  5. Witnessing the ceremony was hard but beautiful, fans saypublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 5 July

    Sofia Ferreira Santos
    Reporting from Gondomar

    Rafaela and Fábio in front of the church where the funeral was held

    Fábio and Rafaela have travelled from the nearby town Lordelo to pay their respects to Diogo Jota and André Silva today.

    Avid football fans - Rafaela is a Porto FC fan and Fábio a supporter of local club Paços, where Jota started his professional career.

    Wearing Jota’s shirt, Fábio says it was important to him to be here “for Jota’s final day”.

    Both say it was also important to the local community that international players and people from across football came.

    They watched the ceremony from outside the church, like hundreds of other fans - which Fábio says was hard. Nodding, Rafaela agrees but says it was also beautiful.

    “This is an example that you need to live life to the max,” Rafaela says, “because you never know when will be your last day.”

    “Say everything you want to say, and need to say - tomorrow could be too late,” Fábio adds.

  6. Who was Diogo Jota's brother, André Silva?published at 12:37 British Summer Time 5 July

    Andre Silva and Diogo JotaImage source, Getty Images

    Once asked who his favourite footballer was, Diogo Jota had an instant response: André Silva.

    That was his younger sibling, a forward like Jota, who was forging a career in his home country Portugal's second division at the time of his death.

    Silva never made a national appearance, but started out in Portuguese club Porto's youth setup before beginning his professional career.

    Reacting to his death, Porto released a social media post with photos of Silva at a young age, and club president Andre Villas-Boas is in attendance at the funeral today.

    In a statement, Villas-Boas said Silva was "someone who was cherished by the youth team staff and who deserved the best".

  7. Footballers mourn Diogo Jota's loss as funeral endspublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 5 July

    As we've been reporting, many of Diogo Jota's footballing colleagues joined his relatives to mourn the Liverpool star today.

    In the pictures below, you can see how teammates from the national side, as well as the clubs Jota played for, paid their respects.

    James Milner hugs a mournerImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Jota's former Liverpool teammate James Milner embraced a fellow mourner as he left the church in Gondomar a little earlier

    Bruno FernandesImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes was pictured leaving the church

    Joao Moutinho holds hands with his partnerImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Joao Moutinho played alongside Diogo Jota for Portugal and Wolverhampton Wanderers

    Jordan HendersonImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Jordan Henderson was emotional as he left the ceremony

  8. 'Despite the impact they had...they never let it show. The community is devastated'published at 12:01 British Summer Time 5 July

    Sofia Ferreira Santos
    Reporting from Gondomar

    The back of a man wearing a Liverpool shirt with the number 20, signed by Diogo Jota

    Gondomar local Fábio Silva has followed Diogo Jota’s career since he started in the local Portuguese clubs - and is here for his final journey.

    He tells me there's one reason why he's here: “Respect for the brothers, the family."

    Silva knows the family and has spent some time with them over the years - his Liverpool shirt is marked with Jota’s autograph. "A hug to Fábio,” the message reads.

    He says people here are so deeply hurt by their deaths, and everyone knew them as a humble family.

    “Despite the impact they had on football, and even financially, they never let it show,’ he adds. “The community is sad, devastated,” he says.

    He hopes Liverpool - also his favourite club - will retire the number 20 and continue to honour Jota going forward.

  9. A short recap as funeral for brothers Diogo Jota and André Silva endspublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 5 July

    The funeral service for Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva has ended, as a procession heads towards the cemetery where they will be buried in their hometown, Gondomar.

    The service lasted for around an hour. Among attendees were Jota's Liverpool teammates, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, who were seen carrying floral tributes into the church ahead of the ceremony.

    There is a strong feeling of community as they walk in together, but also a shared sombreness, writes Sofia Ferreira Santos, our reporter in Gondomar.

    An audio feed of the service echoed through speakers outside the Igreja Matriz, where hundreds of mourners - young and old - are continuing to gather.

    BBC Sport's Matt Graveling says many are standing in the streets in silence. You get the sense they don’t need to follow the service - they just want to be here, at this moment, to pay their respects, he writes.

    Stay with us for further updates.

    Media caption,

    Bells toll as coffins arrive for funeral service

  10. Mourners look on as family and friends pay respectspublished at 11:21 British Summer Time 5 July

    A large crowd of mourners continues to gather outside the church in Gondomar as this morning's funeral service comes to an end.

    A little earlier, they looked on as Diogo Jota's former and current teammates - including former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson - arrived to pay their respects.

    People gather outside churchImage source, Reuters
    Jordan HendersonImage source, Reuters
    Line of mournersImage source, EPA
  11. Procession carries coffins towards cemeterypublished at 11:13 British Summer Time 5 July

    Sofia Ferreira Santos
    Reporting from Gondomar

    The backs of dozens wearing black leaving the church

    The procession is now making its way towards the cemetery where Diogo Jota and André Silva will be buried.

    Family and friends accompany their coffins as Ave Maria rings out from the church speakers and the bell begins to ring once again.

    The huge group of guests - family, friends, loved ones - receive applause from the fans gathered here.

    Guests comfort and hold one another as they walk.

  12. Funeral service ends as mourners head for private ceremonypublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 5 July

    Sofia Ferreira Santos
    Reporting from Gondomar

    It looks like the service is now coming to an end, as we see mourners exit the church from our spot outside.

    The group now looks to be heading towards the cemetery nearby for a private ceremony.

  13. Mourners gather in silence outside church and along side streetspublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 5 July

    Matt Graveling
    Sports reporter, in Gondomar

    Public mourners gather at the funeral outside metal railingsImage source, PA Media

    What is very moving is just how many people are just stood in silence outside of the church. Not just in the courtyard, but also in the side streets.

    Just stopped, alone with their thoughts.

    Even from those too far from the speakers to hear what’s going on inside, you get the sense they don’t need to follow the service, they just want to be here, at this moment, to pay their respects.

  14. Tributes to Jota line perimeter of Anfield stadiumpublished at 10:49 British Summer Time 5 July

    Hundreds of miles away in Anfield, Liverpool, mourners have been paying their respects to Diogo Jota, who had played for the club since 2020, scoring 65 goals in 182 appearances.

    Dozens of scarves and flowers lined up outside Anfield StadiumImage source, PA Media
    A man holds a white sheet at Anfield which says 'Our Diogo Jota. Our Scousuesse, Our Family, RIP, YNWA'Image source, PA Media
    Fans pay their respects outside Anfield Stadium where hundreds of flowers and scarves line the floorImage source, Reuters
  15. 'Diogo Jota is my favourite player'published at 10:42 British Summer Time 5 July

    Matt Graveling
    Sports reporter, in Gondomar

    A composite image of Francisco Silva wearing a Liverpool shirt, and on the back with a signed 20 which says Diogo J

    Francisco Silva is ten years old and lives in Gondomar - he and his family are outside the church where the funeral of Diogo Jota and André Silva is taking place, to pay their respects.

    He says Jota is his favourite player and wears a number 20 Liverpool shirt.

    He tells me it was signed by Jota when he visited his school two years ago.

  16. Watch: Friends and family arrive for funeral of Diogo Jota and Andre Silvapublished at 10:35 British Summer Time 5 July

    As we've been reporting, friends and family of Diogo Jota and André Silva arrived at the church ahead of the funeral.

    Our reporter in Gondomar earlier remarked on the sombre mood as Jota's Liverpool teammates, Virgil van Dijk and teammate Andy Robertson, carried wreaths towards the church doors - you can watch the moment back here:

    Media caption,

    Friends and family arrive for funeral of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva

  17. Funeral service starts with a prayerpublished at 10:31 British Summer Time 5 July

    Sofia Ferreira Santos
    Reporting from Gondomar

    The service starts with the Lord's Prayer, which I can hear over a live audio feed of the funeral being played outside the church.

    Diogo Jota and André Silva family are Catholic, with a Gondomar priest telling local media yesterday Jota cared deeply about his faith.

  18. Ruben Neves at funeral after on-pitch tears last nightpublished at 10:23 British Summer Time 5 July

    Ruben NevesImage source, PA Media

    Just last night, Ruben Neves was consoled as he cried on the pitch by his Al-Hilal teammates, ahead of the side's Florida fixture against Brazilian club Fluminese.

    Now, he's arrived at Diogo Jota's funeral in Portugal to pay tribute to his former teammate after the pair played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as the national side, together.

    When the news of Jota's death was announced, Neves posted a collection of photos alongside a message on social media.

    "You'll always be there with me, as always. We'll continue to laugh, make plans, share our lives with each other," he wrote.

    Ruben Neves and Joao CanceloImage source, Reuters
  19. Family of Diogo Jota and André Silva arrive for funeralpublished at 10:12 British Summer Time 5 July
    Breaking

    Sofia Ferreira Santos
    Reporting from Gondomar

    Family and close friends are walking into the church, many of them with their heads down. There is complete silence, aside from the church bell tolling.

    Many are visibly upset, crying and wiping away tears. A sign is held up, which reads: "Para sempre um de nós." (Forever one of us.)

    Members of the brothers' family carry their caskets into the church.

    As the bell stops ringing, fans applaud.

  20. Strong sense of community as teammates past and present arrivepublished at 10:05 British Summer Time 5 July

    Sofia Ferreira Santos
    Reporting from Gondomar

    It is quite an emotional experience to see the football players from Liverpool, Portugal’s national team and a number of other teams Diogo Jota and André Silva played for walking into the church here in Gondomar.

    There is a strong feeling of community as they walk in together, but also a shared sombreness.

    Many players are visibly upset as they walk into the Igreja Matriz to say their final goodbyes to their former teammates

    It's a really sad scene, and all the players who have arrived this morning are quite moved.

    Fabinho rubs his eyesImage source, Getty Images
    Bernardo Silva carries a white wreathImage source, Getty Images
    Ruben NevesImage source, PA Media