How Portugal paid tribute to Diogo Jota during Women’s Euro 2025 opener against Spain | OneFootball

How Portugal paid tribute to Diogo Jota during Women’s Euro 2025 opener against Spain | OneFootball

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·4 luglio 2025

How Portugal paid tribute to Diogo Jota during Women’s Euro 2025 opener against Spain

Immagine dell'articolo:How Portugal paid tribute to Diogo Jota during Women’s Euro 2025 opener against Spain

Portugal paid tribute to Diogo Jota with this banner after their Euro 2025 opener against Spain. Credit: ITV

It was an emotional night for Portugal who paid tribute to Diogo Jota at their Women’s Euro 2025 opener against Spain on Thursday night.


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Jota died at the age of 28 in a car accident in Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning. The crash also claimed the life of his 26-year-old brother Andre.

Local police said that the Lamborghini which the brothers were travelling in left a road in the Spanish town of Zamora after a tyre blowout and caught fire.

Jota was returning to the United Kingdom for pre-season training with Liverpool via ferry. He had been advised not to travel by plane following a minor lung surgery.

His death came just 11 days after he married his long-time partner Rute Cardoso, whom he had three children together with.

Tributes have flooded in from across the world of football, including personalities and clubs in the women’s game.

Flowers have been left outside Anfield, while Liverpool have opened physical and digital books of condolence.

On Thursday night, Portugal played their Women’s Euro 2025 opener against Spain.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given the circumstances of the day, Portugal suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to the tournament favourites. Spain took the comfortable victory thanks to goals from Vicky Lopez, Alexia Putellas, Cristina Martin-Prieto and a brace from Esther Gonzalez.

How Portugal paid tribute to Diogo Jota during Women’s Euro 2025 opener

Portugal and Spain players observed a minute’s silence as tribute to Diogo Jota before their Women’s Euro 2025 opener.

The head coach of Portugal, Francisco Neto, appeared close to tears, as a black-and-white image of Jota was displayed on the giant screen inside the stadium.

Countless fans were pictured holding banners and messages emblazoned with Jota’s name at Young Boys’ Wankdorf Stadium in Bern.

Players from both sides also wore black armbands in respect of Jota and his brother Andre.

Following the match, Portugal players gathered in front of their supporters with a banner which read: “Thank you for everything Diogo Jota. Rest in peace.”

Portugal forward Diana Silva said after the 5-0 defeat to Spain: “It was a really tough day to play football, because this life is much more than a game, much more than football.

“I knew Diogo and he was a really kind person – much more than a player, much more than a star, he was a guy always paying attention, always ready to give a word for the team and well, it’s sad.

“As a person he was very humble, very kind and he liked us and was always watching us and rooting for us. He meant a lot to us and it’s very sad.”

There was also a minute’s silence before Italy’s 1-0 victory over Poland on Thursday night. A minute’s silence will also be observed at both Group C games on Friday.

What Portugal manager Francisco Neto said about Diogo Jota after defeat to Spain

Portugal head coach Francisco Neto spoke about the death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre after the country’s defeat to Spain on Thursday night.

Neto looked close to tears during the minute’s silence for the pair. He previously worked with Jota during a spell with Portugal men’s U19’s side.

He said: “Diogo followed our team because he loved the county. Diogo always, when I talked to him, always knew the result. He followed the team, some players and this is the culture we have in Portugal.

“Today is a really, really sad day because two of us lost our lives. So young. It is not a good day.”

When will Diogo Jota’s funeral take place?

According to several reports, a wake for Diogo Jota and his brother Andre took place this morning.

Jose Manuel Macedo, the local parish priest, said the wake would take place at 8am at the nearby Capela de Ressurreicao before their funeral will take place on Saturday morning at 10am.

The funeral will be held at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, 30 minutes away from his home city of Porto.

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