‘We will miss you so much’: World mourns Portugal star Diogo Jota’s tragic death

Lisbon: The world of sport has come together to mourn the Portuguese winger’s tragic death on Thursday in a car crash in Spain. His brother, Andre Silva, was also killed.

The death of Portugal and Liverpool FC winger Diogo Jota in the early hours of Thursday morning after a blowout forced his car off the road has shocked the worlds of sport and politics.

Reactions have come in from Liverpool, the club Jota played for when it won the Premier League title last season, to the top of Portuguese politics.

Liverpool FC issued a brief statement, saying, “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.”

“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss,” it added.

The club lowered its flag to half-mast, and fans have already come to its Liverpool stadium, Anfield, to pay tribute to the Portuguese player.

Fellow Portuguese national player and superstar Cristiano Ronaldo also posted on X, highlighting the tragedy of Jota’s death, coming just two weeks after his marriage to Rute Cardoso.

“It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you had gotten married,” Ronaldo said.

“To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you,” he wrote.

Jota’s former manager at Liverpool, German coach Jurgen Klopp, took to Instagram to express his disbelief at the news of Jota’s passing.

“This is a moment where I struggle,” Klopp said. “There must be a bigger purpose (…) But I can’t see it.”

“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre.”

“Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father,” Klopp recalled. “We will miss you so much!”

Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez, who played alongside Jota for the past three seasons, said, “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,” the Uruguayan star said in a post on Instagram.

Jota’s former club, FC Porto, also issued a statement on social media.

“FC Porto is in mourning,” the club said. “It is with shock and deep sorrow that we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who was also our athlete in the youth ranks. Rest in peace.”

Liverpool’s Diogo Jota in Liverpool, 21 August, 2021

Liverpool’s Diogo Jota in Liverpool, 21 August, 2021AP Photo

Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro reacted to the news, calling it “unexpected and tragic” in a post on X.

“I extend my deepest condolences to their family. It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports,” he said.

President of the Portuguese Football Federation, Pedro Proença, posted a message of condolence on social media saying, “The Portuguese Football Federation and the whole of Portuguese Football are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva.”

“Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 international appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.”