Liverpool legend Ian Rush reveals why he missed Jota’s funeral despite being invited

Liverpool legend Ian Rush has revealed why he missed the funeral of Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car crash alongside his younger brother, Andre Silva.

Jota, 28, and Andre, 25, died in a traffic accident in northern Spain last Thursday, barely two weeks after Jota tied the knot with his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children.

The brothers were laid to rest on Saturday at Gondomar Cemetery in Portugal, with Liverpool players, coach Arne Slot, and several Portuguese internationals including Ruben Dias, Ruben Neves and Bernardo Silva in attendance.

But one face was missing – Ian Rush, the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and ambassador.

In a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, Rush explained he was unable to travel because he was also grieving his own brother, Gerald, who passed away around the same time.

“I was invited and intended to attend Diogo’s funeral, but my brother Gerald had passed away last week. I was in the middle of helping with Gerald’s funeral when the news broke about Diogo,” Rush said.

“It’s been an incredibly difficult time, and I just wasn’t able to make it. He hadn’t been well for a while, but like with Diogo, it hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

Rush posted a photo of Jota and Andre in Porto kits, with a bouquet laid beside the image.

“At Liverpool, we’ve always been one big family. Now we’ve lost one of our own, and we must all come together,” he wrote.

Jota, known for his lethal finishing and humility, left a lasting mark on both Liverpool and Portugal. Rush praised him as one of the best natural finishers the club had seen.

“He always gave 100 percent — whether starting or coming off the bench. He didn’t chase headlines. On and off the pitch, he was a real gent.”

Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson were seen carrying wreaths at the funeral, representing the unity of the Liverpool family during one of its darkest hours.

Rush’s message summed it up best:

“Diogo will be remembered not just for his goals, but for the incredible human being he was. He will never be forgotten.”