Beautiful love story

On the day that all attention seemed to be focused on the “trial of the century”, where a former Prime Minister was put on trial for corruption, Portugal was shocked by a tragedy that no one could have prepared for – especially Rute Cardoso.

The woman married Diogo Jota on June 22 in Porto, and became a widow just 10 days later.

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Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso got married on June 22. Photo: Instagram

They have just got married, but Jota and Rute's love story has lasted for many years, with 3 children. The love started by chance in high school and gradually grew despite all the storms, especially the recklessness of youth.

Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso met while studying at the same high school in Gondomar – a small town of about 25,000 people in the north of the country.

Cardoso had just moved from another locality and was in the same class as Diogo Jota, who was known as a student who could achieve good results without trying too hard.

The type of student who crammed his studies into the last two days. “He could get good grades without studying much,” she recalled in a 2016 interview republished by Correio da Manha.

They moved to Madrid together at 19, as Jota began his international career with Atletico. However, his stay was short-lived, as he only participated in pre-season and was loaned out before making his full debut, returning to Porto for the 2016/17 season, where he scored nine goals.

Atletico then saw Jota as a financial deal rather than a sporting project and the following year loaned him out to Wolves – where his talent really blossomed and attracted the attention of Liverpool.

Both Portugal and the world of football mourn

It was while on his way back to Liverpool with his younger brother Andre Silva – also a footballer – that tragedy struck.

Their Lamborghini caught fire after being driven on a motorway in Zamora, Spain, due to a flat tire. The brothers opted to travel by car instead of by plane on medical advice.

Diogo Jota has just undergone lung surgery and as part of his recovery, flying is advised to be dangerous due to pressure changes.

According to the Record, their plan was to drive to Santander (Spain), then take a ferry to Portsmouth (England), and then drive another 430km to Liverpool to prepare for the first training session of pre-season on Tuesday, July 8.

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Rute was heartbroken, while all of Portugal was shocked by Jota's departure. Photo: Instagram

The accident cut it all off – both his plans for Anfield and his life with Rute Cardoso. The tragedy was not just personal, but a collective pain that left the entire football world in shock.

In Portugal, from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to the neighbors of the two players' grandparents, everyone expressed horror and condolences.

President Rebelo de Sousa – who had planned to travel to Cabo Verde on Friday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's independence from Portugal – announced he would cut short his trip to attend the funeral.

According to President De Sousa, he attended the funeral to “express his gratitude for the joy” and “dedication” Jota had given over the years. He highlighted his “profound humility” .

In Gondomar – where Diogo Jota lived, played and met Rute Cardoso – the authorities declared a national day of mourning to remember him and his brother.

In 2022, Jota inaugurated a football academy at Gondomar Sport Clube named after him. At the ceremony, he chose a personal quote as the slogan: “It doesn’t matter where you come from, it matters where you go.”

On the wedding day, he repeated this sentence. However, Diogo Jota no longer walked with Rute Cardoso on the path he had outlined.

For her part, Rute was heartbroken: “I cannot accept that I have lost you…” .

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/diogo-jota-tu-tinh-yeu-dep-nhu-co-tich-den-bi-kich-2418751.html