In a twist that has stunned family, fans, and legal teams alike, investigators have just uncovered a previously unknown will belonging to late footballer Diogo Jota, hidden inside a private safe at a Lisbon storage unit registered under his former business alias. But the most shocking detail? His wife, Rute Cardoso, is not the primary beneficiary.
Instead, 80% of Jota’s £12 million estate — including overseas property, crypto accounts, and a personal luxury car collection — is left to a woman whose identity has never been mentioned in public… until now.
The Woman in the Will: Who Is She?
Legal documents confirm the name listed is Carolina Alves Leite, a 34-year-old language consultant and UEFA-accredited interpreter, known for her discreet work with several European football clubs — including the Portuguese national team.
Alves Leite, who has kept an almost invisible public profile, is the same woman allegedly pictured with Jota in a series of leaked vacation photos from Dubai and Qatar over the past three years — images that were dismissed at the time as “fan conspiracies” by Jota’s PR team.
But now, with her full legal name printed in bold on a signed and notarised document dated 7 days before the crash, those denials are beginning to unravel.
A Hidden Will, A Lockbox, and Legal Chaos
The will was discovered during a court-authorised search following discrepancies in Jota’s asset registry. Investigators found the locked safe behind a false wall panel, containing:
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The handwritten and witnessed will
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A set of digital wallets with £1.2M in cryptocurrency
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A private photo album containing never-before-seen images of Jota and Carolina together — some appearing romantic in nature
Wife Reportedly ‘Destroyed’ and ‘Blindsided’
Sources close to Rute Cardoso say she is “emotionally devastated” and has left the couple’s marital home under advice from her legal team. “She believed she was his entire world,” one friend told The Sun. “Now she’s questioning if she ever really knew who he was.”
Rute has already filed a legal objection, arguing that this secret will may have been written under coercion or altered with intent to deceive. However, early handwriting analysis suggests it matches Jota’s confirmed signature and was witnessed by two individuals now being located for questioning.
What Happens Now?
Lawyers say the existence of two conflicting wills could spark a months-long probate war — especially if it’s proven Jota intentionally kept this second will secret. “This isn’t just a personal betrayal,” one legal expert said. “It could become a landmark inheritance case with international implications.”
Meanwhile, questions remain unanswered:
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Was Jota planning to reveal this new arrangement?
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Was someone helping him hide it?
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And why did he trust Carolina Alves Leite with nearly his entire legacy?
Developing: Police now reviewing bank transfers, encrypted messages, and travel records. The woman at the centre of it all may be summoned for questioning within days.