Diogo Jota funeral: WATCH Ruben Neves, Virgin van Dijk and other Liverpool stars pay final farewell to late friend at Gondomar

Diogo Jota’s family and friends bid an emotional farewell to the former Liverpool star, who died in a car crash in Zamora, Spain. The funeral of Jota and his younger brother André Silva, also a footballer, took place at the Igreja Matriz in Gondomar on Saturday, described as a private ceremony.

Jota’s international and club teammates were seen paying their final tributes to the 28-year-old attacker, who died in the early hours of Thursday after their Lamborghini SUV veered off the road and crashed. The Bishop of Porto, D. Manuel Linda, presided over the funeral mass, reports said.

Among notable attendees were Portugal's Minister of Youth and Sports, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, national coach Roberto Martínez, and former coach Fernando Santos. Players Fábio Cardoso, Rúben Dias, João Moutinho, Nélson Semedo, and Bernardo Silva were present at the Gondomar Parish Church, accompanied by Bruno Fernandes, João Cancelo, and Rúben Neves, among others.

Representing Liverpool, captain Virgil van Dijk was accompanied by Curtis Jones, Andrew Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister, Darwin Núñez, and Federico Chiesa. Liverpool manager Arne Slot joined his players in paying his final tribute to the departed soul. The president of the Portuguese Football Federation and Liga Portugal boss Reinaldo Teixeira were also in attendance.

After the  mass, the funeral happened at the São Cosme cemetery, Portuguese media reports said. As the function was reserved for family and friends alone, speakers were set up outside the chapel to ensure the fans who arrived to pay their respects could listen to the proceedings from where they stood.