‘I still send the late Diogo Jota WhatsApp messages’ — Footballer, Rúben Neves

Portuguese footballer, Rúben Neves has revealed that he still sends WhatsApp messages to his late friend and former teammate Diogo Jota, nearly a year after the Liverpool forward died in a tragic car crash.

Speaking on SIC’s Alta Definição, the Portugal midfielder said he and Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, have kept a WhatsApp group that includes Jota’s account, using it to share special moments and preserve his memory.

“I still talk to him. Few people know this,” Neves said. “We have a WhatsApp group with Rute and Diogo, and it’s still there. Whenever something special happens, I have the conversations archived on my WhatsApp so I can continue to send him messages.”

Jota died on July 3, 2025, aged 28, after the Lamborghini he was travelling in with his brother, André Silva, crashed in Spain’s Zamora province following a reported tyre blowout. Both brothers were killed in the accident, sending shockwaves through the football world.

Neves, who played alongside Jota at FC Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Portugal national team, described the day after learning of his friend’s death as “the most difficult day” of his life.

The emotional revelation comes days after Jota’s widow marked what would have been their wedding anniversary by sharing the speech the former Liverpool forward delivered on their wedding day.

Ahead of the World Cup, Portuguese players were gifted commemorative wristbands that included Jota’s name. Midfielder Vitinha said the wristbands, presented to the squad by Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, feature the names of every player alongside Jota’s as a lasting tribute to the late forward.

“They made sure it was a wristband that we could wear on the pitch. It has the names of all the players plus the special name of Diogo Jota,” Vitinha said.

Jota earned 49 caps and scored 14 goals for Portugal before his untimely death, and his teammates said his memory continues to inspire the squad.