Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Filipe Teixeira da Silva, will be laid to rest on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Gondomar, a town near Porto in northern Portugal.
The funeral arrangements were initially set for Friday afternoon, as announced by local priest Father Jose Manuel Macedo, but the time was later shifted to Saturday morning. The change is attributed to minor paperwork delays, as the family still in Spain as of Thursday evening, worked to finalize the repatriation of the bodies.
A wake is scheduled to take place at São Cosme Chapel, followed by a funeral mass at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, the main Catholic church in the town. Gondomar holds special meaning for Diogo Jota, who began his football journey at a local club there. It is also believed to be where he met his wife.
It remains uncertain whether the ceremony will be private or open to the public.
The tragic accident that claimed the lives of the two brothers near Zamora, Spain, has triggered an overwhelming wave of grief and tributes from across the global football community.
Among those who paid their respects were former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, club legend Sir Kenny Dalglish, and current head coach Arne Slot. Liverpool players also took to social media to express their sorrow.
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister wrote on Instagram: “I can’t believe it. I will always remember your smiles, your anger, your intelligence, your companionship and everything that made you who you were. It hurts a lot, we will miss you. Rest in peace dear Diogo.”
Dominik Szoboszlai added: “Words cannot describe how heartbroken and devastated we are… Your smile, your love for the game will never be forgotten. We will miss you so much, but you will stay with us forever, on and off the pitch. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Rest in peace, brother.”
As the football world continues to mourn the shocking loss, Saturday’s service will serve as a final farewell to one of Portugal’s beloved football sons and his brother.
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