The bus carrying the remains of Diogo Jota and his brother arrived in Portugal, thousands of people waited to pay their respects.

Thousands of people wait to pay their respects to brothers Diogo Jota and Andre Silva

The funeral procession carrying the remains of footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva arrived back to their hometown of Gondomar, northern Portugal on the afternoon of July 4 (local time), after the tragic accident that killed both of them in Spain. The whole country of Portugal, and especially the international football community, is still immersed in grief.

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 1. — The vehicle carrying the remains of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva back to their homeland in Portugal

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 2. — Members of the Spanish police force on security duty outside the morgue

Earlier, on the morning of July 4, the convoy quietly left the Puebla de Sanabria morgue, near the scene where the Lamborghini carrying the two brothers ran off the road and caught fire in the early morning of July 3. Police said the initial cause could be a tire blowout. In the convoy was the presence of Jota's newlywed wife - Rute Cardoso, and his longtime agent Jorge Mendes, quietly accompanying him on his final journey.

Since the news was confirmed, fans have flocked to Jota’s hometown to bid farewell to their idol. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro himself arrived in Gondomar early in the morning to pay his respects to the family. His presence reflected the far-reaching impact Jota had – not just as a football star but as a symbol of national pride.

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 3. — Diogo Jota - Andre Silva's parents Isabel and Joaquim Silva and 'super agent' Jorge Mendes leave after the memorial service

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 4. — Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa speaks with Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proenca after a private memorial service

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 5. — Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro earlier sent his condolences to the family.

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 6. — Porto Club President Andre Villas-Boas also came to the Chapel to attend the memorial service.

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 7. — Diogo Jota's agent, Jorge Mendes

On the afternoon of July 4, a private memorial service was held for the family, relatives and close friends of the two brothers at the Chapel of the Resurrection in Gondomar. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, President of the Portuguese Football Federation Pedro Proenca, representative Jorge Mendes,... were present at this private memorial service.

A public viewing for fans then began at 4 p.m. The Gondomar Mayor's Office said local authorities were prepared to welcome thousands of mourners.

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 8. — After a private memorial service for family and friends, members of the public and fans can enter the Chapel to pay their respects to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva.

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 9.

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 10.

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 11.

Many fans are still stunned as if they cannot believe this tragedy.

PHOTO: REUTERS

"The Gondomar Boy" will rest in Gondomar

Gondomar is not only the hometown but also the place that holds the love memories of Diogo Jota and his wife. He also often calls himself "Gondomar boy" in interviews.

It was at Gondomar High School that he met his future wife, Rute Cardoso. They started dating at the age of 15, when they were in the same class, and she became his emotional support. When they were both 19, they moved to Madrid, when Jota joined Atletico Madrid from the small Portuguese club Paços de Ferreira. She accompanied him through his many clubs and they had three children together. The dream wedding was just held in mid-June - just 11 days before the tragedy.

Diogo Jota's unfinished life: Young wife, young children, dreams waiting to be conquered

In Gondomar, the Diogo Jota Academy – which bears the motto “It doesn’t matter where we come from, it matters where we go” – is now filled with candles, flowers, scarves and jerseys as a farewell from those who once looked up to him as an inspiration. Jota set up the academy in 2022 for children aged 6–9, at Gondomar Football Club – where he played for 10 years as a teenager.

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 12. — Image of Diogo Jota at the academy named after him

Chuyến xe chở di hài Diogo Jota và em trai về tới Bồ Đào Nha, hàng ngàn người chờ viếng- Ảnh 13. — Fans lay flowers at the Diogo Jota Academy

The funeral of brothers Diogo Jota and Andre Silva will take place on the morning of July 5 at a church in Gondomar at 10:00 a.m. (local time, 4:00 p.m. Vietnam time).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chuyen-xe-cho-di-hai-diogo-jota-va-em-trai-ve-toi-bo-dao-nha-hang-ngan-nguoi-cho-vieng-185250704233336354.htm