Diogo Jota's final Instagram post was dedicated to his wedding to his high school sweetheart, Rute Cardoso.
"A day we will never forget 🤍" the Portuguese footballer captioned the post hours before the car accident that claimed his and his brother André's lives in northern Spain.
Diogo and Rute had been married for only two weeks before the tragedy.
Highlights
- Diogo’s final Instagram post featured footage from his wedding to Rute Cardoso, his high school sweetheart.
- The couple married in their hometown of Porto on June 22.
- Tributes from Diogo’s teammates describe the late athlete as a “fantastic player” and a “good companion.”
The couple had three children together: four-year-old Denis, two-year-old Duarte, and 8-month Mafalda.
Footballer Diogo Jota dedicated his final social media post to his wife of two weeks, Rute Cardoso
Image credits: Liverpool FC/Getty Images
The Liverpool forward shared a video of his wedding to Rute in Porto, their home city. It showed the couple getting ready for their nuptials, having fun on the dance floor with their loved ones, and gazing into each other's eyes.
At the start of the footage, a voiceover says, "Dear Rute, dear Diogo, today is a day that will mark your lives for the rest of your days.
"This is the only day that you have been able to get together, at the same time, in the same place [with] your family, your friends, to celebrate what truly matters, which is love."
Image credits: rutecfcardoso14
Rute also posted a photo of herself in her wedding dress, which she captioned, "My dream came true 🤍."
Diogo left a romantic comment on the Instagram post: "But I'm the lucky one 😍."
The late athlete posted footage from the wedding and wrote, "A day we will never forget 🤍"
Image credits: diogoj_18
Football fans were left devastated by the news, with one user expressing, "The more I read about it, the less I believe it. I'm in shock."
"I'm gutted, I wake up and the first thing I see is the news of their passing... My sleep vanished in an instant... What a bloody unfair life," shared another user.
"Life is very unfair, cherish every moment, lads. It's a real shame," said someone else.
Image credits: diogoj_18
Diogo's passing comes after his Lamborghini veered off the A-52 in the Spanish province of Zamora. The 28-year-old was traveling with his fellow footballer brother, 26-year-old André Silva, who also lost his life.
The accident happened at around 00:30 local time. According to Spain's Guardia Civil, the car left the road due to a tire blowout while overtaking another car. The vehicle then caught fire.
According to reports by Portuguese media, Diogo and André were driving to Santander to catch a ferry to England.
The 28-year-old had recently undergone lung surgery and had been advised not to fly to the UK. He was due to return to pre-season training with Liverpool on Monday (July 7).
The high school sweethearts tied the knot in their native Porto in Portugal
Image credits: diogoj_18
"He was diligent on the one hand, and disinterested on the other," she said.
"He managed to get good grades, but without studying much."
Diogo and Rute had three children together: Denis, Duare, and Mafalda
Image credits: rutecfcardoso14
The then 19-year-old spoke about missing her future husband after he left Portugal to play for Spain's Atlético de Madrid.
"I'm anxious. Diogo only left this week, but I already miss him," she told local media.
"On the other hand, it's going to be complicated, because I have two very young nephews and it's going to be hard to be away from them."
At the time, the couple had been dating for four years, so she said "it made sense" to follow Diogo and move to Spain with him.
Image credits: rutecfcardoso14
"In addition to being his girlfriend and best friend, I'm his number one fan, I want to be there."
In 2019, the late footballer dedicated an Instagram post to Rute, sharing a photo of the couple on the pitch.
"From the beginning until the end," he captioned the post. "Thank you all for the amazing support this season. We did it together."
Rute said in a 2016 interview that she was Diogo's "best friend and number one fan"
Image credits: rutecfcardoso14
In 2023, Rute accused Premier League officials of "rigging" a match between Diogo's Liverpool and Tottenham.
Her social media post reportedly resulted in two VAR (Video Assistant Referee) officials being removed from upcoming games.
Diogo was a key part of the Liverpool team that won the Premier League last season. He also played in the UEFA Nations League final against Spain, which Portugal won.
André played as an attacking midfielder for Penafiel, a club in Portugal's second division, Liga Portugal 2.
Image credits: rutecfcardoso14
Diogo's club and Portuguese international teammates paid tribute to the late athlete on social media.
Fellow Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo said the tragedy "doesn't make any sense."
"Just now we were together in the national team, you had just got married," he wrote, before sending his condolences to Jota's family. "I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will miss you."
Portugal's goalkeeper Diogo Costa stated, "There are no words, rest in peace."
Diogo lost his life at age 28 following a car accident in northern Spain, while he was traveling with his 26-year-old brother, André, who also passed
Image credits: FC Porto
Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez shared, "There are no words of comfort for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field.
"I send all my strength to his family, from where he is I'm sure he will always be with you, especially his wife and three children.
"May you rest in peace. Diogo and Andre."
Penafiel FC wrote, "The loss of two such young lives fills us with pain and dismay" and expressesed their condolences to the brothers' family and friends.
Fans have gathered outside Anfield, Liverpool's stadium, to lay flowers and pay tribute to Diogo.
People were stunned by the tragic news and offered their condolences to Diogo and André's family
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