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Diogo Jota illuminated a room with his presence, and Alexander-Arnold pays tribute to his close friend, celebrating the profound impact of his life.

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Family and football unite to bid Diogo Jota a heartfelt farewell,

celebrating a life that left an indelible mark on the beautiful game. Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother were laid to rest on Saturday in their hometown, just days after the pair's tragic passing in a car crash that sent shockwaves through the football world.

Jota, 28, and Andre Silva, 25, were killed on Thursday after their vehicle veered off a motorway in northwestern Spain and became engulfed in flames, a week after the Portugal forward had tied the knot. Just hours before the accident, Jota had posted a video of his June 22 wedding to partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children.

Football stars joined family and friends at the funeral in his hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, conducted by the bishop of Porto. A number of teammates from the national side, including Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Danilo Pereira, and Joao Felix, as well as coach Roberto Martinez, attended, though national skipper Cristiano Ronaldo was not present.

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk bore a garlanded wreath of red flowers in the form of a Liverpool shirt bearing Jota's number 20. Friday evening had seen Van Dijk, several players, including Liverpool's Uruguay international Darwin Nunez, and Liverpool coach Arne Slot, meet with Jota's family and attend a wake for the deceased brothers. Among those who came to offer their condolences were a childhood friend, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, Jota's agent Jorge Mendes, and Porto club president Andre Villas-Boas.

Jota formerly played with Porto. "Football is truly in mourning. Diogo was an icon of the talent Portuguese football represents," said football federation chief Pedro Proenca. Close family and friends, including the parents, paid their respects at Friday's wake first, with the grandfather aided by two others to help him enter the chapel. Friday night, British rock band Oasis played their song "Live Forever" in tribute to Jota at a concert in Cardiff, marking a return to touring after 16 years.

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