Tears as Diogo Jota, brother’s bodies arrive Portugal

The remains of Portuguese international footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, Andre, were received in solemn silence on Thursday night as grieving fans gathered outside a church in Gondomar, northern Portugal.

As reported by the Daily Mail, emotional scenes unfolded when the hearses carrying their coffins arrived at the Capela de Ressurreição shortly after 11pm, ahead of a morning vigil.

The two brothers were killed in a devastating road accident early Thursday near Cernadilla, just over the Spanish border. Reports indicate that a tyre on Jota’s Lamborghini Huracan burst while overtaking another car, causing the vehicle to spin out of control on the A-52 motorway. It flipped multiple times before catching fire, instantly claiming both lives.

Spanish official Angel Blanco confirmed to the Daily Mail that the brothers died before emergency responders could arrive.

The blaze from the accident spread to nearby vegetation, prompting swift action from firefighters. Authorities are still working to determine which of the two was driving at the time of the incident.

Speaking to CNN, local priest José Macedo said a wake would begin at 8am today at the chapel, with a funeral Mass scheduled for 10am on Saturday at the adjacent Igreja Matriz.

“We’re available to celebrate [their life] with everyone and to share the pain and the Christian hope,” Macedo said.

Earlier on Thursday, the bodies were transported from a funeral home in Puebla de Sanabria, Spain, where they were first taken following the crash.

Among those present was Jota’s agent, Jorge Mendes, who was seen consoling the family and supporting the footballer’s mother as they entered the funeral facility.

“We lost two great people. Diogo is an example as a person, husband, son, professional. I still can’t believe it. It’s very difficult,” Mendes said, visibly emotional.

The somber procession made its way to Gondomar, just a half-hour drive from Porto, Jota’s hometown.

Tragically, the wake is taking place in the same town where, only two weeks earlier, the 28-year-old Liverpool forward had celebrated his wedding to longtime partner Rute Cardoso, surrounded by friends and family.

According to media reports, Jota and 26-year-old Andre had been en route to Santander to board a ferry to the UK, opting for road travel due to Jota’s recent lung surgery which prevented him from flying.