By Emeka Blast 
Ronaldo joined family, teammates, and dignitaries to honor Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva at their hometown wake ahead of Saturday’s funeral.
Portugal captain Ronaldo joined family, teammates, and dignitaries to honor Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva at their hometown wake ahead of Saturday’s funeral.
🕊️ Funeral Attendance & Mourners
Cristiano Ronaldo was among the first high-profile figures to arrive at the Capela da Ressurreição in Gondomar, paying respects to his late teammate Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva .
The private ceremony, attended by family and close friends in the morning, was later opened to the public, drawing hundreds of mourners including 🇵🇹 Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, FC Porto officials, Liverpool staff, and former teammates .
🕰️ Timeline & Location
Event Details
Funeral wake Held Friday afternoon at Capela da Ressurreição, Gondomar
Arrival of bodies Coffins arrived by hearse late Thursday from Spain and were met with applause by locals
Funeral service Scheduled for 10 AM local time on Saturday at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar
⚽ Shows of Solidarity
Ronaldo’s attendance underscores the deep bond within the Portugal squad; his heartfelt message on social media read:
“It doesn’t make sense… to your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world … Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre.”
Other football figures, including Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, Andy Robertson, Joao Cancelo, club CEOs, and managers like José Mourinho, were also present, demonstrating unity and sorrow across the sport .
🌍 Community & Club Tributes
The wake saw moments of silence in football arenas worldwide—from Anfield to Women’s Euro matches and Club World Cup fixtures. Flags have been lowered to half-mast at Liverpool and FIFA HQ .
Outside the chapel and at memorials—including Jota’s youth academy—hundreds left flowers, scarves, candles, and jerseys paying homage to this local hero .
⚰️ Ronaldo’s Presence in Context
Ronaldo’s attendance at the wake highlighted:
A personal farewell from Portugal’s captain to a fellow national team player, recently sharing triumph in Nations League and personal milestones.
The solidarity and grief shared by footballing icons, honoring the memory of two young lives lost just weeks after Diogo’s wedding and birth of three children.
His gesture resonated deeply at the wake, symbolizing unity and respect across the football community.
Ronaldo and others will attend the funeral on Saturday at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, as Portugal and the football world come together to bid farewell to Diogo Jota and André Silva in an emotional final goodbye.
