Lionel Messi and Neymar express their feelings after the death of European champion Diogo Jota
The death of the Liverpool and Portugal national team player shook the world of football to the point that great stars sent their condolences
The Brazilian Neymar Jr. and the Argentine Lionel Messi have expressed their deep sorrow this Thursday for the death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, as well as that of his brother André Silva, victims of a tragic traffic accident that occurred this morning in the A52, in Cernadilla (Zamora), Spain.
The Argentine star, who currently plays for Inter Miami, limited himself to a heartfelt “RIP” ('Rest in peace') written over a black and white photograph of Jota on his official Instagram account.
Neymar, for his part, the striker for Brazilian Santos, sent his most sincere condolences “to all the family and close friends.”
“Rest in peace Diogo and André!” added the 33-year-old footballer, who, in turn, published a photo of the Portuguese player with the English League Cup, which he won on May 25.
Other football figures affected by the news
Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. also wanted to send a message of support, as did Karim Benzema and Erling Haaland, his former coach Jürgen Klopp and many of the players with whom he shared a dressing room, such as Raúl Jiménez, Roberto Firmino, and Darwin Núnez, among others.
“Diogo was not only a fantastic footballer, but also a great friend, a loving husband, and a caring father. We will miss him very much,” Klopp posted.
“There are no words of consolation for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile and as a good teammate on and off the pitch,” wrote the Uruguayan Núñez.
Federations such as those of Spain and Brazil, and especially the Portuguese, joined in the displays of affection, as did all the teams he played for, including Atlético de Madrid, organizations such as CONMEBOL, UEFA, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and André Silva is an irreparable loss for Portuguese football, and we will do our utmost to ensure that we continue to uphold the values ??of our country.” everything possible to honor his legacy every day,”said the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Pedro Proença, in a statement.
LeBron James, the NBA star who owns a stake in Liverpool and has recently visited Anfield, sent a message of support to the Portuguese's loved ones on social media. “My prayers are with his loved ones at this time! May you all be guided and protected!” was the American’s message, whose words were echoed by other athletes, such as former tennis player Rafael Nadal, who sent his full support to all his relatives.
Outside of sport, Prince William of Wales also echoed the tragic news to express his “deep sadness” following the footballer’s death.
“As part of the football family, I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Diogo Jota and his brother. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and all who knew him,” wrote the heir to the British throne on the social network X, in a post signed with his initial 'W' (for William, in English).