Porto, July 9, 2025 — In a moment that brought even the most stoic mourners to tears, Diogo Jota’s young son, just 5 years old, did something so pure, so painfully human, that it has left millions around the world weeping.
During the final moments of the private funeral service held in Porto, surrounded by close family, friends, and former teammates, the boy was gently lifted by his mother to say goodbye. The room had fallen silent — but what happened next was something no one could have expected.
With trembling hands, the child placed one of his father's old Liverpool training wristbands — a piece they often wore together while playing in the backyard — onto the closed coffin. Then, in a whisper that was barely audible but caught on camera by a mourner nearby, he said:
“I’m still too young, Dad… You forgot to finish our game.”
The room, already heavy with grief, erupted in sobs. Even seasoned players like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah reportedly broke down in tears.
What made the moment even more heartbreaking was the child’s attempt to crawl under the flower arrangements, as if trying to “follow” the coffin. Family members had to gently carry him away, with his small voice repeating, “I’ll wait for you at home, okay?”
The video, which has now gone viral across Europe and South America, has become a symbol of unspeakable loss and the unimaginable pain of a child who doesn’t yet fully understand death — only absence.
Fans around the world are flooding social media with the hashtag #TooYoungDad, sharing drawings, messages, and photos of Jota with his son — many remembering the touching post Jota once shared of his boy wearing a tiny Liverpool jersey, sitting on his lap after a win.
One user wrote:
“This isn’t just the death of a footballer — this is a son losing his hero before he even had the chance to grow up with him.”
Diogo Jota was only 28. He leaves behind his wife Rute, their son, and a legacy that continues to echo not just in stadiums — but in the quiet heartbreak of a child still waiting for his dad to come home.