Rute Cardoso, the wife of Diogo Jota, has turned to social media to express her sorrow in a poignant first post following the tragic passing of the 28-year-old. The Liverpool forward, along with his brother Andre Silva, lost their lives in a car accident earlier this month just north of the Portuguese border in Zamora, Spain.
1lJota, who was born in Porto and had also played for Wolverhampton Wanderers during his career, was returning to England after having undergone lung surgery when a tyre on a Lamborghini burst while attempting to overtake in the early hours of Thursday, July 3.
Emergency services were promptly summoned to the location following multiple calls that notified them of the accident – and they subsequently verified that Jota, who previously played for La Liga team Atletico Madrid and FC Porto, along with his brother, had tragically lost their lives.
In the immediate wake of this news, tributes from fellow players and football icons poured in, and Liverpool, the club for which he made 182 appearances, has since retired the No.20 jersey in honor of the gifted winger – and now, his wife has courageously shared her thoughts in his remembrance.
Just a couple of weeks before he passed away, Jota married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, after proposing to her back in July 2022. They officially tied the knot on June 22, 2025 – but tragedy struck not long after as he and his brother were pronounced dead at the scene.
Marking the one-month anniversary of their wedding, Jota’s wife has taken to social media to commemorate his life – and the love they shared. She posted some snaps from their special day: the first showing their hands being held with their rings on show.
The following two pictures were of the pair dancing. Translated into English from Portuguese, the caption read: “1 month [since we said], ‘Until death do us part’. For ever, Your [bride].”
As previously stated, the two individuals have been together since their youth, with images of the couple on social media tracing back to as early as 2013. They are parents to three children: two sons, aged two and four, and a daughter born in 2024. Rute was frequently seen in the stands supporting her late husband’s matches.
A poignant reminder that life should not be taken for granted, Jota’s last social media update prior to his tragic passing was a tribute to his wedding and the love and affection he held for his wife, Rute. The Porto academy alumnus shared a video accompanied by the caption “A day we will never forget.
“A one-time Premier League champion, Jota participated in 37 matches under Slot’s management last season as they secured the English top-flight title. During that time, the forward scored nine goals and provided four assists. In summary, he was not only an exceptional footballer but also an outstanding individual.