Ruben Neves reveals he still messages late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota
Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves has revealed he continues to send messages to the late Diogo Jota in a WhatsApp group, almost a year after the former Liverpool forward tragically died in a car crash.
Jota was killed at the age of 28 on 3 July 2025 when his vehicle crashed in the Spanish province of Zamora following a tyre blowout.
The devastating accident also claimed the life of his brother, Andre Silva, leaving the football community in mourning.
Speaking to Portuguese television network SIC, Neves explained how he uses an archived chat to cope with the immense grief of losing a close friend.
Coping with a devastating loss
The 29-year-old shared a dressing room with the attacker at Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as on the international stage.
“I still talk to him,” Neves told the Alta Definição programme.
“We have a WhatsApp group with Rute and Diogo, and it’s still there, and we continue to talk there.”
“Whenever something special happens, I have the conversations archived on my WhatsApp so I can continue to send him messages.”
The Portuguese international described the morning after learning of the tragic news as the most difficult day of his life.
Honouring a fallen team-mate
The poignant admission comes as Roberto Martinez’s national squad prepare to honour their departed colleague at this summer’s World Cup in North America.
Players are wearing commemorative wristbands featuring the names of the 26-man squad alongside the beloved forward.
Portugal Prime Minister Luis Montenegro personally presented the tributes to the team prior to the tournament.
Paris St-Germain midfielder Vitinha recently highlighted the emotional significance of the gesture ahead of a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A heartbreaking anniversary
The painful milestone arrives shortly after Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, marked what would have been their first wedding anniversary.
The couple married on 22 June last year after more than a decade together, welcoming three children before the tragedy struck.
Taking to Instagram, Cardoso shared moving footage of the wedding speech delivered by her late husband.
“Where the future takes us, maybe there’s someone here who knows better than I do,” the former Reds attacker said in the video.
“But the truth is, I don’t know and it doesn’t really matter to me as long as I’m with you.”
