Diogo Jota’s widow Rute breaks silence with emotional Instagram post

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Rute Cardoso, widow of Liverpool and Portugal football star Diogo Jota, broke her silence one month after his tragic death in a car accident, sharing an emotional Instagram post that resonated with thousands worldwide.

Under her handle, rutecfcardoso14, Rute wrote, “1 month of our ‘until death do us part’ For ever, Your white girl ,” marking the fleeting milestone of their June 22, 2025, wedding.

The post, liked by over 201,000 users, including Georgina Rodríguez, partner of Cristiano Ronaldo, drew an outpouring of love and support from fans, players, and the global football community.

Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 25, perished on July 3, 2025, when their Lamborghini veered off the A-52 motorway in Zamora, Spain, due to a tire blowout, bursting into flames.

The accident, occurring just 11 days after Jota and Cardoso’s wedding, left Cardoso to raise their three young children—Dinis, Duarte, and a daughter whose name remains private, amid unimaginable grief.

The couple, high school sweethearts since 2013, had built a life together, moving from Porto to Wolverhampton and Liverpool as Jota’s career soared.

The Instagram post, accompanied by white heart emojis, evoked a flood of responses.

One follower wrote, “You have a whole world of people who are thinking about you Rute, stay strong, hug your babies tight. They will be your strength and comfort. You’ll never walk alone,” earning over 950 likes.

Another commented, “Muita força para vocês ❤️ nosso eterno 20 vai abençoar lá do céu,” referencing Jota’s jersey number 20, suggesting his enduring presence.

The emotional weight of the comments hints at Cardoso’s profound loss, with fans and players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk previously sharing tributes to Jota’s warmth and legacy.

Cardoso, a 28-year-old physiotherapist who paused her career to support Jota and their family, has remained private since the tragedy, focusing on shielding her children.

Her post reflects both love and sorrow, echoing their wedding vows and the joy of a day when Jota called himself “the lucky one” in response to her caption, “My dream came true.”

The football world, from Liverpool’s Anfield tributes to Portugal’s national team, continues to rally around Cardoso, with a fan-led crowdfunding effort raising over £1 million for her family.