Alisson was not at the funeral but posted an emotional message via Instagram
Alisson Becker Explains Heartbreaking Absence from Diogo Jota’s Funeral
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has opened up about his painful absence from the funeral of Diogo Jota, who tragically lost his life alongside his younger brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain earlier this week.
Jota, aged 28, and his 25-year-old brother were killed in the early hours of Thursday morning when their car veered off the road in Zamora and caught fire. The shocking news sent ripples through the football world, leaving teammates, fans, and family heartbroken.
Alisson, who had shared the pitch and dressing room with Jota since 2020, shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, revealing that geographical distance had kept him from saying goodbye in person.
“Usually, I post things that make sense, but today, nothing makes sense,” Alisson began.
“Once again, an ocean separates me from saying goodbye to someone I love. But I know I’m well represented by my clubmates.”
He shared a poignant black-and-white photo of himself, his wife Natalia, Jota, his wife Rute, and their children together — a moment frozen in time before tragedy struck.
“To you, my friend Rute Cardoso, just know that you will never walk alone. We will be with you as soon as possible,” he added.
Alisson described Jota as a “great friend, father, and husband,” noting the deep love the late forward had for his family, especially his wife, whom he had married less than two weeks before the accident.
“In a moment like this, all we can do is bow before the Sovereignty of God and receive grace and help in this time.”
He ended his message with a powerful scripture from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which speaks of the different seasons of life:
“A time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to weep, and a time to laugh.”
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A City in Mourning
While Alisson couldn’t attend in person, many of Jota’s past and present Liverpool teammates made the journey to Gondomar, Portugal, to pay their final respects on Saturday morning.
Among those in attendance were Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, and Joe Gomez, with Van Dijk and Robertson seen solemnly carrying floral tributes into the church.
New Liverpool manager Arne Slot was also present, along with prominent Portuguese internationals including Bruno Fernandes, Joao Moutinho, and Ruben Neves. Hundreds of fans lined the streets to honour the beloved forward.
Jota leaves behind a legacy that goes far beyond statistics. In just 182 appearances for Liverpool, he scored 65 goals, helped the club win the Premier League, and made an indelible impact on everyone around him.
His sudden death, just days after celebrating his wedding, has left a deep void — not just at Liverpool, but in the entire football community.
He was 28. His brother Andre was 25.
May they both rest in peace.