The world of football is still struggling to breathe after the sudden death of Diogo Jota.
But for Pedro Neto and Rúben Neves, this loss runs deeper than sport. It is the kind of heartbreak you can’t put into words – because what they lost wasn’t just a teammate. They lost their brother.
Jota, 28, died in a car accident while travelling with his young brother in northern Spain. Only weeks earlier, he had been celebrating his wedding, smiling with friends and family, planning for the future. Now, those closest to him are clinging to memories.
“We grew up together”
Pedro Neto and Diogo Jota became inseparable at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Two young Portuguese stars, far from home, sharing dreams in a cold English town. They trained together, laughed at the same jokes, and pushed each other on the pitch. They were more than roommates. They were soulmates in sport.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, visibly shaken, shared the weight Neto now carries:
“Pedro is devastated. He and Jota weren’t just teammates. They were like brothers. He hasn’t been himself since the news broke.”
Neto was due to start in the Club World Cup quarterfinal for Chelsea. He stayed behind. “He needs time,” the club said. “We understand.”
“You never lose people you never forget”
Rúben Neves, another from the Wolves family, also broke his silence with a short, piercing message:
“They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you.”
Neves and Jota had built their connection both at Wolves and in the Portuguese national team. They lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy together, joked through long flights, and shared the burden of pressure that comes with playing for their country.
Their bond, like Neto’s, wasn’t just built in dressing rooms. It was forged in those quiet, invisible moments — late-night talks, injury frustrations, early morning gym sessions, shared ambitions.
Klopp: A father figure
No one believed in Diogo Jota like Jürgen Klopp.
The Liverpool manager fought to bring him to Anfield in 2020. Many questioned the signing. Klopp didn’t.
“He was a gem of a player,” Klopp said. “But he was an even better man. Kind, honest, full of light.”
To Klopp, Jota was more than a forward — he was family. “He made everyone better around him,” Klopp added. “You could see the respect he earned, not just from the fans, but from the entire dressing room.”
Klopp reportedly broke down in private team meetings after confirming the news. Liverpool cancelled media engagements. Players were given the day off. Flags at Melwood flew at half-mast.
The silence in the game
Since the news, the usual noise of football has quieted.
No press from Neto. No statements from Neves, beyond that one line. Just silence. Stadiums across Europe held moments of reflection. Fans lit candles. Wolves supporters laid down scarves, jerseys, notes. One read simply:
“Forever our number 20. Fly high, Diogo.”
Even Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s captain, paid tribute, writing:
“You gave everything for the game and for your country. Rest in peace, my brother.”
Jota’s final international cap came just days before the crash. He scored. He smiled. He hugged Neto on the sideline.
More than football
This story isn’t just about what Jota did on the pitch — though he scored goals that made crowds roar and defenders panic. It’s about who he was to the people who knew him best.
To Pedro Neto and Rúben Neves, he was the heart of their journey.
To Jürgen Klopp, he was a son.
To football, he was a reminder that joy, loyalty, and humility can still exist at the highest level of the game.
The pitch will feel emptier now. But for those who loved him, Jota will never be gone. Because, as Neves said,
“You never lose people you never forget.”
