Jota’s heartbroken wife visits Anfield with Liverpool stars to lay flowers

DIOGO Jota’s heartbroken wife visited Anfield to view the tributes left for her husband.

Rute Cardoso, 28, hugged two children as she looked at the sea of flowers, teddies, scarves, football shirts and messages.

Liverpool players also carried flowers in tribute to Jota, who died in a car crash with his brother Andre Silva.

Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Darwin Nunez were among those in attendance - representing the club alongside head coach Arne Slot.

There will be a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone and a minute’s silence on Sunday at Liverpool’s friendly at Preston North End.

Dad-of-three Jota, 28,  and Silva, 25, died when the Lamborghini they were in burst into flames after a suspected tyre blowout.

He had married partner Cardoso just 11 days before the crash.

Police said Jota was driving when he crashed his rental acid green Lamborghini near Zamora, Spain, on July 3.

The brothers were en route to the Spanish port city of Santander to catch a ferry to the UK after the Portugal star was urged not to travel by plane following lung surgery.

They were laid to rest after a heartbreaking funeral attended by his family, friends and Liverpool teammates last Saturday.

Tributes poured in from around the world, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Oasis and Cristiano Ronaldo among those who mourned the loss of the brothers.

Liverpool stars Virgil Van Dijk and Andy Robertson led mourners with two touching wreaths emblazoned with Diogo's number 20 and André's number 30.

Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez spoke after the ceremony and described how the days since their tragic deaths had been “really, really sad” but the funeral today showed “we are a very large, close family”.

Martinez went on to say it was “essential” for Portugal to show “we are together,” adding the brothers’ spirits will be “with us forever”.

He said: “So thank you very much for your messages and for your support and everything that we receive [from] all over the world.

“Today we are all one football family.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was there with his players - including Reds stars Joe Gomez, Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister.

Former teammates Jordan Henderson and James Milner were also in attendance.

Some of Jota's international teammates present at the ceremony were Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Chelsea's João Félix and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva.

A huge crowd of mourners gathered outside the church and showed support for the brothers' friends, family, coaches and teammates as they walked in procession.

The service was private, but a live audio feed was played outside the church.

Addressing Jota's children, who were not at the service, as well as their mother and grandparents, the Gondomar priest was heard saying in the broadcast: "There are no words, but there are feelings.

"We also suffer a lot, and we are with you emotionally."