BREAKING: Priest Reveals Diogo Jota’s Father Made One Final Request Before Coffin Was Sealed — ‘Nobody Else Knows’

In a poignant moment during the funeral of Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva on July 5, 2025, in Gondomar, Portugal, a local priest revealed that their father, Joaquim Silva, made a deeply personal request just before Diogo’s coffin was sealed. Speaking to CNN Portugal on July 7, Father José Manuel Macedo, who led the wake at Capela da Ressurreição, disclosed that Joaquim whispered a private plea as he stood by his son’s coffin, saying, “Nobody else knows.” This revelation, shrouded in mystery, has added another layer of heartbreak to the story of a family grappling with the loss of two sons in a tragic car crash on July 3, 2025, near Zamora, Spain.

A Private Moment Amid Public Grief

The funeral at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar was a communal outpouring of sorrow, attended by Liverpool stars Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and manager Arne Slot, alongside Portugal’s Rúben Neves, who served as a pallbearer, and other football luminaries like Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva. The coffins, adorned with floral tributes shaped like Diogo’s No. 20 and André’s No. 30 jerseys, were carried to the sound of Schubert’s Ave Maria, a song played at Diogo’s wedding to Rute Cardoso just 11 days earlier. Hundreds gathered outside, chanting “Força!” as Rute, wearing Diogo’s training jacket with a hidden note, and Joaquim, clutching a football-shaped keychain from Diogo’s childhood, mourned their loss.

Father Macedo, who officiated the wake on July 4, shared with CNN Portugal that during the private burial at Sao Cosme cemetery, Joaquim approached Diogo’s coffin alone just before it was sealed. “He leaned close and whispered something, a request only he and God know,” Macedo said. “He told me, ‘Father, nobody else knows,’ and asked that it remain private, a sacred moment between a father and his son.” The priest, respecting Joaquim’s wishes, declined to disclose the request’s details but described it as “a father’s final act of love, rooted in faith.” This moment, occurring after the public service, underscores the family’s deep Catholic faith, as noted by a Gondomar priest who told BBC News that Diogo cared deeply about his beliefs.

The Weight of a Father’s Regret

Joaquim’s private request follows a series of emotional revelations. At the wake, he broke down, saying, “That wasn’t my son,” unable to reconcile Diogo’s lifeless form with his vibrant spirit. He later shared hearing Diogo’s voice—“Pai, estou aqui”—at the crash’s timestamp, 12:30 a.m. on July 3, and expressed regret over their final phone call, wishing he had urged Diogo and André to stop driving. Most recently, Joaquim found an envelope in Diogo’s bedroom containing a letter and video outlining plans for a Jota-Silva Academy, a legacy now in motion. These moments paint a picture of a father wrestling with grief, guilt, and a desperate need to preserve his son’s presence.

Dr. Sofia Mendes, a Porto-based grief counselor, suggests that Joaquim’s request likely reflects a spiritual or emotional need. “In Catholic tradition, a final request before a coffin is sealed often involves a prayer, a promise, or an object placed with the deceased—something deeply personal,” she explains. “Joaquim’s secrecy suggests it was an intimate act, perhaps a vow to honor Diogo’s legacy or a plea for his soul’s peace.” Given the family’s faith, it’s plausible Joaquim entrusted a prayer or a small memento, like the keychain, to Diogo’s care, a gesture aligning with Portuguese customs of farewell.

The Funeral and Its Symbols

The funeral was steeped in symbolism. Rute, supported by her sister, leaned on Diogo’s coffin, her fingers clutching its edge as Ave Maria played, its meaning forever altered from her wedding day. Isabel, Diogo’s mother, whispered, “You left me your strength,” while Joaquim’s keychain and the envelope’s contents—a letter urging the family to “keep going” and a video for the academy—became anchors of memory. The bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda, addressed Diogo’s children—Dinis, Mafalda, and Duarte—in his homily, saying, “The ones who suffer the most are your mother and grandparents,” a message that resonated as Joaquim’s request remained private.

Father Macedo’s revelation has sparked quiet speculation among fans, though he emphasized respecting Joaquim’s privacy. On X, a post read, “Joaquim’s final request for Diogo is his heart speaking. We don’t need to know—it’s their bond. YNWA.” The secrecy aligns with the family’s dignified mourning, as seen when police dispersed fans taking photos at the gravesite, per The Sun, to protect their privacy.

The Crash and Ongoing Pain

The crash on the A-52 highway, caused by a tire blowout, left the Lamborghini in flames, killing Diogo and André instantly. Diogo, advised against flying due to a pneumothorax, was traveling to Santander for a ferry to the UK. Earlier reports noted a mysterious metallic shard and unusual steering inputs, but investigations remain inconclusive. For Joaquim, these details are secondary to his personal losses—his sons, his final call with Diogo, and now this private request.

The request’s significance lies in its intimacy. Cosme Silva, a family friend, told The Guardian that Joaquim’s “discipline and humility” shaped Diogo, suggesting the request may involve a commitment to uphold these values, perhaps through the academy. The Jota-Silva Academy, detailed in Diogo’s letter, is set to launch in 2026, with Rute and agent Jorge Mendes leading efforts, supported by Porto’s André Villas-Boas.

A Community United in Grief

The football world continues to mourn. Liverpool’s card at Diogo’s grave, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and tributes from Anfield to Gondomar reflect his impact. Fans, moved by Joaquim’s request, have renewed calls to retire Diogo’s No. 20, per BBC News. Portugal’s Roberto Martínez called the brothers’ spirit “forever with us,” a sentiment echoed by Rúben Neves, who carried Diogo’s coffin.

Joaquim’s request, known only to him and God, joins other family touchstones: the keychain, Rute’s note, Isabel’s farewell, and the academy plan. As Dr. Mendes notes, “Such acts are a way to maintain a dialogue with the departed, especially in faith-driven cultures.” In Gondomar’s Sao Cosme cemetery, under olive trees, and at Anfield, where scarves pile high, Joaquim’s whispered request ensures Diogo’s presence endures, a private vow amidst a public tragedy, forever binding a father to his son.