FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Tears, songs, flowers and silence! This was the atmosphere in the Portuguese city of Gondomar, where hundreds of thousands of people gathered to bid farewell to Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota, who tragically lost his life just 11 days after his wedding.
The 28-year-old, a father of three, had won the Premier League with Liverpool and the Nations League with Portugal this year, but his life was suddenly cut short in a tragic accident while returning to England for the preparatory phase.
Jota was driving to Liverpool after being advised not to fly due to a minor surgical procedure. Unfortunately, his journey never ended.
Liverpool described his death as "a tragedy that transcends football", while thousands of fans gathered near Anfield stadium to lay flowers, lay scarves and sing songs dedicated to him in chorus.
Former captain Jordan Henderson could not hold back tears as he laid a wreath with a touching message:
"Rest in peace, my friend, with your brother André. We will all miss you."
Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool striker, said he found it difficult to contemplate returning to the club after this shocking defeat: "I'm speechless. Until yesterday, I didn't think there would be anything that would scare me away from returning to Liverpool."
In his honor, at the Oasis reunion concert in Cardiff, Jota's image appeared at the end of the song "Live Forever", receiving long applause from the packed stadium.
Liverpool's local rivals Everton were also in attendance. A delegation - including Portuguese-born strikers Beto and Youssef Chermiti - laid flowers near Anfield.
Former Liverpool city councillor Peter Millea told the BBC: "He was one of those players who immediately won the hearts of the fans, not just for his goals but for the way he carried himself on and off the pitch."
Chants for Jota were also heard outside England. At Wolves' Molineux stadium, his former club, fans paid tribute. At Wimbledon, Portuguese tennis player Francisco Cabral wore a black armband, while a minute's silence was held at the Euro 2025 women's match between Denmark and Sweden.
Jota's funeral will take place this Saturday at 10:00 AM at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.
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