Diogo Jota’s Portugal team-mate Ruben Neves carries Liverpool star’s coffin at funeral – after making late night dash after playing in Club World Cup in USA
Diogo Jota’s Portugal team-mates Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo have flown out for his funeral.
Neves, who also played with Jota at club level for Wolves and Porto, was one of the pallbearers at the funeral in Gondomar after making a late night trip from the USA, where he was playing in the Club World Cup.
Neves and Cancelo both started as Al-Hilal were beaten 2-1 by Fluminense in the quarter-finals.
Jota and his brother Andre passed away in Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning following a car crash.
After making his senior debut for Portugal in 2019, Jota made 49 appearances for his country, scoring 14 goals.
Jota played with Neves more times than any other player in his career – the pair were on the pitch together on 164 occasions.
Ruben Neves arrived at Diogo Jota’s funeral in Portugal after travelling from the USA
Neves, who also played with Jota at club level, was one of the pallbearers at the funeral
Joao Cancelo, who also played with Jota for Portugal, was seen arriving in Gondomar
Like Neves, Cancelo also played in the Club World Cup for Al-Hilal in the USA last night
Portugal international Renato Veiga, who plays for Chelsea, also arrived at the funeral
Jota made his senior Portugal debut in 2019 and made 49 appearances for his country
Jota was part of the Portugal squad which won the UEFA Nations League last month
Jota and Neves also played together at youth level for Portugal.
Chelsea defender Renato Veiga, who is part of the Portugal squad, was also seen arriving for Jota’s funeral.
Jota was part of the Portugal squad which won the Nations League final against Spain last month.
Cancelo and Jota played 32 games together, with 29 of those coming at senior level for Portugal and the other three taking place at Under-21 level.
Neves and Cancelo were seen breaking down in tears during the minute’s silence which was held at the Club World Cup.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Kalidou Koulibaly were seen giving support to Neves during the minute’s silence.
Jota had been travelling to Santander to catch a ferry back to England ahead of pre-season, having been advised not to fly following lung surgery, when the accident occurred.
He and his brother were driving eastward along an isolated stretch of highway, about an hour west of Zamora, when tragedy struck.
Cancelo was in tears after a minute’s silence in tribute to former team-mate Jota
Cancelo could be seen fighting back the tears as players gathered around the centre circle
Neves wiped away the tears after Al-Hilal and Fluminense paid tribute to Jota
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (left) and Kalidou Koulibaly (right) gave support to Neves during the minute’s silence
Their Lamborghini came off the road, rolled and then burst into flames at around 12.35am, also igniting the surrounding vegetation.
The emergency services were called but the brothers could not be saved.
Spanish government official Angel Blanco said the siblings died at the scene.
