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Diogo Jota’s widow made an emotional return to Anfield alongside her children as Liverpool and the late footballer’s ex-club Wolves faced off on Saturday.
Diogo Jota's widow, Rute Cardoso, has extended her heartfelt thanks to Liverpool Football Club after her family made an emotional return to Anfield for the match between the Reds and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The game marked the first time Jota's two former clubs have met since the tragic death of the 28-year-old Portugal international and his brother, André Silva, 25, in a car accident in Spain earlier this year.
Before kick-off, Jota's sons, Dinis and Duarte, were welcomed onto the pitch, where they shared a moment with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. Supporters from both clubs joined in paying tribute to the late forward throughout the match, which Liverpool won 2-1.
Rute, who watched from the stands with their youngest daughter, later shared a message on Instagram expressing her gratitude for the outpouring of support.
"From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the club and to all the fans for the love, respect and support shown during this incredibly difficult time," she wrote alongside photos of her sons at Anfield. "Your messages and gestures have meant more than words can express."
Klopp and Slot With Touching Tributes
The football world has been in mourning since the tragedy occurred as Jota was returning to begin pre-season training with Liverpool. Tributes have continued to pour in from all corners of the sport.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who signed Jota in 2020, penned a touching tribute in The Observer, remembering his former player as "humble and authentic."
"Why was he so loved? For me, it's simple," Klopp wrote. "Because in Diogo, people saw the very best of themselves. Or maybe the best of what we wanted to be. He didn't pretend to be anything other than what he was... Diogo was simply Diogo. Unashamedly."
Klopp added, "Although I remember the footballer with huge pride, it is the person I remember most. But the beautiful thing is: both versions of him shared the same qualities."
Current Liverpool manager Arne Slot also shared his thoughts in his pre-match programme notes, hoping the affection shown for Jota could offer some comfort to his family.
Jota Enjoyed Success at Wolves and Liverpool
"It is not my place to tell them where they should look for comfort – if that is even possible – but I can only hope that the feeling of love and affection that Diogo still generates brings them some solace," Slot said.
Jota first joined Wolves on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2017, playing a key role in their promotion to the Premier League before making the move permanent. He scored 44 goals in 131 appearances for the Molineux club before his transfer to Liverpool.
At Anfield, he quickly became a fan favorite, winning the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022, followed by a Premier League title in what was Arne Slot's first season. Liverpool has since retired Jota's No. 20 shirt, and fans continue to sing his chant in the 20th minute of every home game.
It was also reported that Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), have committed to honoring the remainder of Jota's contract, which had two years left, to support his widow and three children.