What should’ve been a beautiful milestone turned into a moment of deep sorrow for Rute Cardoso, the widow of late footballer Diogo Jota. Just one month after their wedding, Rute marked what would have been their first anniversary with a tribute that broke hearts around the world.
Diogo Jota, aged 28, tragically lost his life in a car crash in northern Spain on July 3—only eleven days after saying “I do” to his longtime love, Rute, in their hometown of Porto. The couple shared three children together: four-year-old Dinis, two-year-old Duarte, and baby Mafalda, just eight months old.
On July 22, Rute took to social media to share a few personal moments from their wedding day. One photo, showing their hands gently clasped, carried a simple but devastating message: “1 month of our ‘until death do us part.’ Forever. Your white girl.”
The crash also claimed the life of Diogo’s brother, André Silva. Both were laid to rest side by side in Gondomar, Portugal.
In the wake of the tragedy, Liverpool FC—the club Jota had played for since 2020—took the extraordinary step of retiring his No. 20 jersey across all competitions, a gesture made with the blessing of Rute and his family. His profile now lives on in a special Forever section of the club’s website, where the tribute reads: “He will always be our number 20.”
Rute recently visited Anfield in private, accompanied by club officials, to view a mural painted in Diogo’s honor near The Kop. She also reunited with members of the first-team squad—many of whom had formed close bonds with the Portuguese forward during his time at the club.
Before joining Liverpool in a £41 million move, Jota made his mark at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he scored 44 goals in 131 matches. Just days ago, Wolves honored him with a posthumous induction into their Hall of Fame.
“Diogo Jota has been inducted into the Wolves Hall of Fame, in a tribute that honours both his remarkable achievements for the club and the deep impact his passing has had on the footballing world,” the club wrote in a heartfelt statement.
Jota’s legacy continues to live on—not just in records and murals, but in the love and memories held by those he left behind.
