Following Real Madrid's game against Borussia Dortmund at the Club World Cup, former Liverpool player Trent Alexander-Arnold paid tribute to Diogo Jota when speaking to DAZN:

“Of course, first and foremost I want to send my condolences, my love, my thoughts and prayers to the family of a close friend of mine. It has been very difficult for me personally and the ones that knew him. Not just teammates and friends and family but the footballing world. Some things are bigger than the game.

“It has been difficult but it has been heartwarming to see the footballing world come together to show their love and support to him and his family and obviously his brother as well.

“So, although it has been difficult it has also been a nice [reaction] from everyone, all the clubs and all the people showing love and support for what must be a mind-blowingly hard time for the family. I have been in and around him and his brother, his family, his amazing wife, his parents, his three children. So it is truly heart-breaking to wake up to news like that. It is something that you would never, ever expect.

“He was a very close friend. Somebody who lit up a room when he was in it. I shared a dressing room with him for five years, amazing memories on and off the pitch with him. It goes without saying that he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in our memories for the amazing man and player he was.” 


Others seen arriving at the church included Reds manager Arne Slot, captain Virgil van Dijk and team-mates including Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez.


Also at the funeral for the Portugal international were his national team-mates Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City, Joao Felix and Renato Veiga of Chelsea, Nelson Semedo from Wolves, Joao Moutinho, Rui Patricio and Ruben Neves, as well as former Liverpool player Fabinho, Porto president Andre Villas-Boas and Portugal manager Roberto Martinez.

Some of the players carried wreaths shaped like football shirts as they arrived at the church.

Family and friends gathered for the brothers’ wake on Friday, with a queue forming outside the Portuguese chapel.

The brothers’ parents attended the Sao Cosme Chapel, the Capela da Ressurreicao, in Gondomar, with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and Jota’s agent also there.

People held service sheets featuring pictures of both brothers, the largest one showing Jota smiling in his Liverpool shirt and making a heart sign with his hands.