Liverpool players past and present have united in grief following the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota, who lost his life in a car accident alongside his brother André Silva, in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Among the latest to pay tribute is Liverpool’s No. 1 goalkeeper Alisson Becker. The Brazilian took to Instagram in the early hours of Saturday morning, coinciding with the day of Jota’s funeral in Portugal, to share a heartfelt message about his late teammate and close friend.
Alisson, who has spent the past five years alongside Jota at Liverpool where they recently just went on to win the Premier League expressed his deep sorrow via an Instagram post addressing he unable to attend the funeral in person.
Currently with his family in Brazil, he acknowledged the emotional pain of once again being “an ocean away” from saying goodbye to a loved one, referencing a similar heartbreak he endured in 2021 when he was unable to attend his father’s funeral due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
“Usually, I post things that make sense, but today, nothing makes sense,” Alisson wrote. “Once again, an ocean separates me from saying goodbye to someone I love. But I know that I am well represented by my club mates.”
He went on to address Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso:
“To you, my friend @rutecfcardoso14, just know that you will never walk alone. We will be with you as soon as possible.”
Alisson concluded his tribute with a message of faith and a Bible passage:
“In a moment like this, all we can do is bow down before the Sovereignty of God, and receive grace and help in this time. I’ll remember Diogo as a great friend, father, and husband.”
While Alisson remains in Brazil, several of his teammates and club representatives have travelled to Gondomar, near Porto, to attend the private funeral service for Jota and his brother. Among those in attendance are captain Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konaté, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Ryan Gravenberch, Darwin Núñez, and Federico Chiesa. Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson also made the journey to Portugal, visibly emotional as he reunited with the squad.
On Friday morning Henderson returned to Anfield, where he penned a message in the official book of condolence. Mohamed Salah, also shared his grief on social media, calling it “extremely difficult” to return for pre-season knowing Jota won’t be there.
As tributes continue to pour in from the football world, one thing is clear Diogo Jota’s legacy as a teammate, player, and person will not be forgotten.
