Sports
Liverpool Star Diogo Jota, Brother Laid To Rest After Tragic Car Crash
A wave of grief swept across the football world on Saturday as Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his younger brother Andre Silva, 25, were laid to rest in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, following a tragic car crash that claimed their lives on Thursday.
The two brothers were killed when their vehicle veered off a motorway in northwestern Spain and burst into flames, just a week after Jota had celebrated his wedding to longtime partner, Rute Cardoso.
He had shared a joyful video of the June 22 ceremony online only hours before the accident. The couple had three children together.
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A solemn funeral service was held at a local chapel and presided over by the Bishop of Porto.
Teammates, coaches, and dignitaries gathered in deep mourning, with notable absentees including Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, though many members of the national team – such as Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Danilo Pereira, and Joao Felix – were present. Portugal’s national team coach Roberto Martinez also attended.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk presented a garlanded wreath shaped like a Liverpool jersey bearing Jota’s number 20, symbolizing the club’s deep loss.
He, alongside teammates Darwin Nunez and other Liverpool officials, attended the Friday evening wake, joining family and friends in remembrance.
Paying tribute at the wake were Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, Jota’s agent Jorge Mendes, and Porto club president Andre Villas-Boas.
Jota had played for FC Porto earlier in his career before moving to Atletico Madrid, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and later Liverpool.
“Football is truly in mourning. Diogo was an icon of the talent Portuguese football represents,” said Pedro Proenca, president of the Portuguese Football Federation.
Emotional scenes unfolded as mourners arrived with wreaths, many openly sobbing. Jota’s grandfather, frail and devastated, had to be supported as he entered the chapel.
Tributes continued across the globe. British rock band Oasis dedicated their song “Live Forever” to Jota during a concert in Cardiff on Friday night, marking their first tour in 16 years.
Outside Anfield, Liverpool FC’s stadium, a sea of flowers, scarves, balloons, and Jota shirts was created by grieving fans.
The club lowered its flags to half-mast and opened a book of condolences, while heartfelt messages like “Rest in Peace Diogo Jota” were seen throughout the city.
At the Diogo Jota Football Academy, located near Gondomar SC where his football journey began, supporters built a makeshift memorial of candles, flowers, and handwritten notes. One note from a child simply read, “Thank you, Diogo Jota.”
Pedro Neves, a childhood friend, remembered Jota fondly: “He was very friendly, very courteous, loved everyone, and always had a smile. He left us too young—it’s not fair. But that’s how life is sometimes.”
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who signed Jota in 2020, said he was “heartbroken.” His successor, Arne Slot, noted that the club must “stand together and be there for one another.”
Jota’s memory was also honored internationally with a minute of silence observed during the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final between Fluminense and Al Hilal in Orlando, and during UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 matches.
Media reports indicated Jota was en route to Santander, Spain, to board a ferry to England ahead of Liverpool’s pre-season camp, opting not to fly on medical advice after a recent lung operation. The club has since postponed the return of several players.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah expressed his devastation, saying the loss had left him “frightened” to return to the club.
Portuguese football tactician Carlos Queiroz has made a surprise return as head coach of Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars.
The Ghana Football Association announced the 73-year-old’s reappointment on Thursday, weeks after he appeared to signal his departure from the team following their exit from the FIFA World Cup.
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Queiroz took charge of Ghana in April and guided the Black Stars to the last 32 of the tournament before they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
Shortly after the loss, the Portuguese coach appeared to announce his departure on social media.
However, following subsequent discussions, the Ghana FA has decided to bring him back for another spell.
The duration of Queiroz’s new contract was not disclosed, but the football association said he would be tasked with preparing the Black Stars for “a successful new phase on the international stage.”
The GFA said Queiroz’s extensive international experience, technical expertise and knowledge of the Black Stars made him the right man to lead the team into its next chapter.
Queiroz has managed several national teams, including Portugal, Iran, Egypt, South Africa, Colombia and Qatar.
He also had two spells as assistant manager at Manchester United under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
His immediate priority will be Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with the qualifiers scheduled to begin later this month.
The Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Somalia, although the dates and venues for their opening two matches are yet to be announced.
The Ghana FA said further details on Queiroz’s mandate would be released in due course.
Nigerian winger Femi Azeez has completed a remarkable rise from non-league football to the Premier League after joining Brighton & Hove Albion from Millwall on a four-year contract.
The transfer, for an undisclosed fee, was completed after Brighton and Millwall submitted a deal sheet before the initial 11pm transfer deadline, extending the window until 1am on Wednesday.
Azeez, 25, joins Brighton following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign with Millwall, where he played a key role in the club’s push for the Championship play-offs.
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The Nigerian made 77 appearances for Millwall, scoring 15 goals and registering 13 assists. His impressive performances also earned him places in the PFA and EFL Championship Teams of the Season.
Brighton sporting director Mike Cave welcomed Azeez to the club, describing him as one of the most exciting attacking talents in the Championship.
“We are delighted to add Femi to the squad. He arrives off the back of an excellent season with Millwall, having played a key role for them as they finished in the playoffs,” Cave said.
“He was one of the most exciting attacking talents in the Championship, and we’re delighted to have finally agreed his transfer, and we now look forward to working with him.”
Azeez’s journey to the Premier League has been unconventional. After spending time in Watford’s youth setup, he moved into non-league football with Northwood before spells at Wealdstone and Hanwell Town.
He subsequently earned a move to Reading in 2019 before joining Millwall in 2024, steadily working his way up the English football pyramid.
The winger has also made a strong start to his international career with Nigeria. On his senior debut in June, Azeez scored both goals in the Super Eagles’ 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe.
Four days later, he provided an assist as Nigeria defeated Jamaica 3-0.
Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has been convicted of drink-driving in Gran Canaria, Spain, after a court found him to have been driving with an alcohol level more than three times above the legal limit.
A court source confirmed the conviction to AFP on Wednesday, stating that the 23-year-old centre-back was fined €14,400 ($16,700) and had his driving licence suspended for eight months.
The case followed an incident on August 16 and was heard at a trial in San Bartolome de Tirajana, a village in Gran Canaria.
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Asencio, who is from the Canary Islands, was not with Real Madrid’s squad at the time of the incident as he was recovering from a hamstring injury suffered at the end of July.
The conviction comes amid another legal case involving the defender. Asencio is due to face a separate court hearing in Gran Canaria over the alleged non-consensual sharing of a sexual video dating back to 2023.
Spanish media reports say Asencio expects to be cleared in that case if the two women filmed in the video formally forgive him.
Three former Real Madrid reserve players are also on trial over allegations that they recorded and distributed the video. The trial is scheduled for September 3, 4 and 7.
The latest conviction adds to a difficult period for the young Real Madrid defender, who has been dealing with both injury and legal issues off the pitch.
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