Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has shared the heartbreaking reason he won’t be able to attend the funeral of his teammate Diogo Jota on Saturday morning.
Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, tragically died in a car accident in Zamora, Spain, in the early hours of Thursday. Preliminary reports suggest the vehicle suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking, veered off the road, and caught fire.
Eyewitnesses who contacted emergency services said the car was quickly engulfed in flames. The Spanish Guardia Civil later confirmed the identities of the victims as Jota and Silva.
Following the news, Liverpool led the tributes to Jota. Manager Arne Slot, captain Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah were among those who shared heartfelt messages. The club has since retired Jota’s number 20 jersey and made both an online and physical book of condolence available for fans.
The funeral is scheduled for Saturday morning in Jota’s hometown of Gondomar, Portugal, where funerals typically take place within 48 hours of death. It remains unclear which Liverpool players or staff, if any, will attend the service.
Alisson, who spent all five of Jota’s seasons at Liverpool as a teammate and close friend, expressed his sorrow at not being able to say goodbye in person. Alongside a black-and-white photo of their families together, he wrote on Instagram:
“Once again, an ocean keeps me from saying goodbye to someone I love. But I know my teammates will represent me well. To you, my friend Rute Cardoso [Jota’s wife], remember that you’ll never walk alone—we’ll be with you soon!”
He also included a passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NKJV) and reflected: “At times like this, we can only submit to God’s sovereignty and seek His grace and comfort. I’ll remember Diogo as a wonderful friend, husband, and father.”
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