Grief Sweeps Through Gondomar as Diogo Jota and Brother Laid to Rest
A quiet sorrow settled over Gondomar on Saturday morning as the town gathered to say goodbye to two of its own—Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva.
The heartbreaking loss came just days after a car accident in northwestern Spain claimed their lives. The vehicle they were traveling in veered off the motorway and caught fire, leaving a stunned Portugal—and the world of football—in mourning.
The funeral service began at 10 a.m. in the town the brothers once called home, just outside Porto. It was a deeply emotional farewell, held only two days after the crash and a week after Jota had celebrated his wedding.
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The ceremony, led by the Bishop of Porto, drew people from all walks of life—political leaders, football giants, childhood friends, and devastated family members. Among those present were President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. Also in attendance were Jota’s agent, Jorge Mendes, and FC Porto’s president, Andre Villas-Boas.
By Friday evening, a steady stream of mourners had made their way through the São Cosme Chapel, where a wake was held. Faces were heavy with grief. Jota’s grandfather, barely able to walk, was helped inside by two men, as family clung to each other for strength.
Diogo Jota, just 28, had become a familiar face for Portugal and Liverpool fans alike—admired for his spirit on the field and his quiet humility off it. His younger brother André, 25, may not have been in the spotlight, but in their community, he was deeply loved.
Their passing has left a silence in Gondomar that words struggle to fill. What remains is memory, and the ache of dreams that ended far too soon.
