Liverpool star’s unmissable, tear-jerking tribute to “precious soul” Diogo Jota
Following Jota’s tragic death, Reds left-back Andy Robertson has opened up on his relationship with the Portugal star: “It hurts so much”.
The world of soccer, sport and beyond is in mourning following the tragic deaths of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and brother André Silva, also a soccer player for Portuguese second-tier team Penafiel.
The devastating circumstances surrounding Jota’s already tragic death
Just days after his wedding to long-term girlfriend Rute Cardoso, with whom he shares three children, Jota and Silva died in northern Spain when the Lamborghini they were travelling in burst into flames after a tire blew out.
The siblings had been on the way to the northern Spanish city of Santander, where Jota had been due to catch a ferry to England. He had been advised not to fly after having lung surgery shortly before his wedding.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi and LeBron reach out
Tributes to the pair have poured in from all around the world, including from Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota’s international teammate with Portugal, former Reds manager Jürgen Klopp, Lionel Messi and even LeBron James, a part owner of Liverpool since 2011.
But few have been quite like that of Andy Robertson, who posted a wonderful tribute to a man who was clearly so much more than simply a teammate at Anfield.
The Scotland captain and the Portuguese attacker enjoyed huge success in their five years together with the Reds, but, as you might expect, it was their close off-field relationship that was the subject of Robertson’s Instagram post, which had his followers wiping away the tears.
Andy Robertson’s tribute to Diogo Jota
The ones I’m thinking about most right now are the family. Their loss is too much to bear. I’m so sorry that they have lost two such precious souls – Diogo and Andre.
For the team and the Club, we’ll try to cope with this together… however long that takes.
For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy.
I could talk about him as a player for hours, but none of that feels like it matters right now.
It’s the man. The person. He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real.
Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun.
He was the most British foreign player I’ve ever met. We used to joke he was really Irish… I’d try to claim him as Scottish, obviously. I even called him Diogo MacJota.
We’d watch the darts together, enjoy the horse racing. Going to Cheltenham this season was a highlight - one of the best we had.
The last time I saw him was the happiest day of his life – his wedding day. I want to remember his never-ceasing smile from that magical day. How much he was bursting with love for his wife and family.
I can’t believe we’re saying goodbye. It’s too soon, and it hurts so much.
But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better.
Love you, Diogo ❤️
Diogo Jota: an elite-level soccer player, Premier League winner and Champions League star. But more importantly, a friend, brother, son, husband and father.
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