Joao Felix says late Jota 'will forever be part of football history'
FILE: Liverpool's Portuguese striker Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring a goal during the English League Cup third round football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on September 25, 2024. Liverpool striker Diogo Jota died along with his brother early July 3, 2025 in a road accident in northwest Spain, the Spanish Civil Guard said. The accident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on a highway in the province of Zamora. The vehicle "left the road" before bursting into flames, the Civil Guard said, adding that the two passengers, Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Felipe, also a professional footballer, were deceased. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Audio By Carbonatix
Joao
Felix said Monday that Portugal team-mate and close friend Diogo Jota will
"forever be a part of football history" following the Liverpool
star's death aged 28.
Jota was
killed along with brother Andre Silva when their Lamborghini went off the road in
northern Spain on July 3.
Just 11
days prior to the accident, the Portuguese forward had married Rute Cardoso, the
mother of his three children.
The
Premier League remembered Jota over the weekend in a series of moving tributes.
Adding
his voice to the outpouring of grief across the football world, Felix looked
visibly moved as he spoke about his good friend and international colleague.
Felix,
who was among the mourners at the brothers' funeral, said: "Diogo to me
was one of my best friends in the national team, he was always part of our mini
group in the national team, those of us who were always together.
"I
knew his family, especially his parents, an incredible family."
Speaking
in Hong Kong, where Felix is with his new team Al Nassr for this week's Saudi
Super Cup, the 25-year-old added: "I think he will forever be a part of
football history, he will remain in the hearts of those who were already close
to him.
"After
that day, every time we go on the field we will remember him and play in part
for him."
The
attacker Felix joined fellow Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabia's Al
Nassr late last month from Chelsea in a move reported to be worth up to 43.7
million pounds ($58 million).
Felix,
who has also played for Benfica, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and AC Milan, will
reportedly earn $10 million a year.
Leave a Comment