JUST IN: Diogo Jota’s Father Confirms He Heard His Son’s Voice in the House — The Timestamp Matches the Crash Time

On July 7, 2025, two days after the funeral of Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in Gondomar, Portugal, a startling claim emerged from their father, Joaquim Silva. In an interview with A Bola, Joaquim revealed that on the night of the fatal car crash that killed his sons, he heard Diogo’s voice calling out in their family home at precisely 12:30 a.m.—the exact time of the accident in Zamora, Spain, as confirmed by the Spanish Civil Guard. This haunting revelation, coupled with Joaquim’s ongoing grief, has captivated the football community and left fans grappling with the intersection of loss, faith, and the unexplained.

A Father’s Haunting Experience

The tragedy that claimed Diogo, 28, and André, 25, occurred on July 3, 2025, when their Lamborghini Huracan veered off the A-52 highway near Cernadilla, Spain, after a tire blowout, bursting into flames. Diogo, advised against flying due to recent lung surgery, was traveling to Santander for a ferry to the UK for Liverpool’s pre-season training. The crash, reported by CNN, left the football world in mourning, with tributes from Anfield to Gondomar.

Joaquim’s claim emerged during a private moment at the family’s home in Gondomar, where he and his wife Isabel have been grappling with their loss. Speaking to A Bola, Joaquim recounted waking suddenly on July 3 at 12:30 a.m., feeling an “unsettling chill.” He described hearing Diogo’s voice calling, “Pai, estou aqui” (“Dad, I’m here”), a phrase Diogo often used when returning home as a teenager. Joaquim checked the house but found no one. Only later, when police confirmed the crash’s timestamp, did he connect the moment to his son’s death. “It was Diogo’s voice, clear as day,” Joaquim said, tears in his eyes. “I don’t know if it was a sign, but it felt like he was saying goodbye.”

Grief and the Supernatural

Such experiences are not uncommon in grief, according to Dr. Maria Costa, a Lisbon-based psychologist specializing in bereavement. “rumbling, “For a grieving parent, hearing a loved one’s voice can be a manifestation of their emotional need to maintain a connection. In Portuguese culture, where Catholicism and spiritual beliefs are strong, such moments are often interpreted as signs of presence or farewell.” She notes that Joaquim’s experience, while deeply personal, reflects a coping mechanism rooted in love and loss, not necessarily a literal event. The timing, matching the crash at 12:30 a.m., adds a poignant layer, amplifying the family’s need for closure.

The Silva family, devout Catholics as noted by a Gondomar priest in BBC News, may find solace in such experiences, viewing them as spiritual connections. Joaquim, who was seen clutching a football-shaped keychain from Diogo’s childhood during the funeral, has leaned on faith and memories to navigate his grief, as reported in earlier accounts. His wife Isabel’s whispered words to Diogo’s coffin, “You left me your strength,” and Rute Cardoso’s discovery of a note in Diogo’s training jacket, “You’re my strength,” reflect a family clinging to symbols of love. Joaquim’s claim of hearing Diogo’s voice extends this pattern, a testament to their unbreakable bond.

The Funeral and Family Grief

The funeral on July 5 at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar was a heart-wrenching event, attended by Liverpool stars Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and manager Arne Slot, as well as Portugal teammates like Rúben Neves, who served as a pallbearer. The bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda, addressed the family’s pain, speaking to Diogo’s children—Dinis, Duarte, and Mafalda—who were absent from the service. Rute Cardoso, Diogo’s widow, wore his training jacket, and Joaquim broke down at the wake, saying, “That wasn’t my son,” unable to reconcile the lifeless body with Diogo’s vibrant spirit. The community’s support, with fans singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” outside the church, underscored the collective mourning.

Joaquim’s claim adds a new dimension to this narrative. A family friend told The Independent that Joaquim, a factory worker who sacrificed much for Diogo’s career, saw his sons as embodiments of joy and pride. Hearing Diogo’s voice, he believes, was a moment of connection, not delusion. “In our culture, we believe the soul lingers,” the friend said, reflecting Portuguese traditions of honoring the deceased through wakes and Masses.

A Community in Mourning

The football world has rallied around the Jota family. Tributes at Anfield, including flowers and scarves, reflect Diogo’s legacy as “Jota the slotter,” who scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool. The Guardian reported fans’ calls to retire his No. 20 jersey, a sentiment echoed on X, where one post read, “Joaquim’s story about hearing Diogo’s voice is heartbreaking. YNWA for their family.” Cristiano Ronaldo’s Instagram post, “It doesn carnavest make sense,” captures the disbelief shared by many.

Joaquim’s experience has sparked discussions among fans, with some on X sharing similar stories of hearing loved ones at the moment of passing, a phenomenon psychologists attribute to heightened emotional states. Dr. Costa explains, “The brain, in grief, can produce vivid sensory experiences, especially at significant timestamps, as a way to process loss.” For Joaquim, the voice was a fleeting comfort, aligning with the crash’s timing and his memories of Diogo’s youthful calls home.

Unanswered Questions and a Lasting Legacy

The crash investigation, per ABC News, continues to explore whether speed or the tire blowout was the primary factor, with no conclusive findings yet. For Joaquim, these details are secondary to the void left by his sons. His claim, shared publicly to honor Diogo’s memory, has resonated deeply, with Sky News noting the family’s request for privacy amidst their “unimaginable loss.”

The keychain, the note in Rute’s jacket, Isabel’s whispered farewell, and now Joaquim’s claim of hearing Diogo’s voice form a tapestry of love and loss. As The Athletic reported, Diogo’s wedding to Rute, just 11 days before the crash, was a “dream summer” turned nightmare. Joaquim’s experience, whether spiritual or psychological, underscores a father’s enduring connection to his son. In Gondomar, where olive trees shade the Sao Cosme cemetery, and at Anfield, where tributes pile high, Diogo’s voice—real or remembered—lives on in the hearts of those who loved him.