‘I still send the late Diogo Jota WhatsApp messages’ — Footballer, Rúben Neves

Portuguese footballer, Rben Neves has revealed that he still sends WhatsApp messages to his late friend and former teammate Diogo Jota, nearly a year after the Liverpool forward died in a tragic car crash. Speaking on SICs Alta Definio, the Portugal midfielder said he and Jotas widow, Rute Cardoso, have kept a WhatsApp group that includes Jotas account, using it to share special moments and preserve his memory.I still talk to him. Few people know this, Neves said. We have a WhatsApp group with Rute and Diogo, and its still there. Whenever something special happens, I have the conversations archived on my WhatsApp so I can continue to send him messages.Jota died on July 3, 2025, aged 28, after the Lamborghini he was travelling in with his brother, Andr Silva, crashed in Spains Zamora province following a reported tyre blowout. Both brothers were killed in the accident, sending shockwaves through the football world.Neves, who played alongside Jota at FC Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Portugal national team, described the day after learning of his friends death as the most difficult day of his life.The emotional revelation comes days after Jotas widow marked what would have been their wedding anniversary by sharing the speech the former Liverpool forward delivered on their wedding day.JotaAhead of the World Cup, Portuguese players were gifted commemorative wristbands that included Jotas name. Midfielder Vitinha said the wristbands, presented to the squad by Portuguese Prime Minister Lus Montenegro, feature the names of every player alongside Jotas as a lasting tribute to the late forward.They made sure it was a wristband that we could wear on the pitch. It has the names of all the players plus the special name of Diogo Jota, Vitinha said. Jota earned 49 caps and scored 14 goals for Portugal before his untimely death, and his teammates said his memory continues to inspire the squad. The post I still send the late Diogo Jota WhatsApp messages Footballer, Rben Neves appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.