Rúben Neves Returns to Portugal Within 24 Hours of Playing in Orlando to Serve as Pallbearer at Funeral of Diogo Jota and André Silva
Rúben Neves, midfielder for Al‑Hilal and a former Wolves and Portugal teammate of Diogo Jota, made an emotional journey back to Portugal less than a day after competing in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final in Orlando. He joined the funeral service in Gondomar as a coffin bearer for Jota and his brother André Silva .
The funeral took place at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar on Saturday, July 5, 2025, drawing hundreds of mourners, including prominent figures from Liverpool, Portugal’s national team, and the local football community . Among the pallbearers was Rúben Neves, deeply moved by the tragic loss of his close friend and former teammate .
Earlier, Neves and João Cancelo participated in a poignant minute’s silence prior to Al‑Hilal’s match against Fluminense in Orlando, visibly overwhelmed with emotion . Despite the heavy atmosphere, they honoured their teammates on the pitch before immediately travelling to Portugal, underscoring their commitment and respect .
The funeral service featured moving tributes, including floral displays—one shaped like Jota’s No 20 jersey, and another bearing Silva’s No 30—carried by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and full-back Andrew Robertson . National coach Roberto Martínez spoke of the unity and profound sense of loss felt across the football community, stating that Portugal has come together to honour two of its own .
Diogo Jota, a 28‑year‑old forward for Liverpool and the Portuguese national team, and his younger brother André Silva, a 25‑year‑old midfielder at Penafiel, lost their lives in a car accident on the A‑52 motorway in Zamora, Spain, on July 3, 2025 . The heartbreaking incident occurred as they were traveling to catch a ferry back to England, having chosen road travel due to prior medical advice following Jota’s recent lung surgery .
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