“That Wasn’t My Son” — Diogo Jota’s Father Breaks Down While Describing What He Saw During the Final Viewing

On July 4, 2025, in the quiet Capela da Ressurreição in Gondomar, Portugal, the family of Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota gathered for a private wake ahead of his funeral. Diogo, 28, and his brother André Silva, 25, were killed in a tragic car crash in Spain on July 3. Among the mourners, Joaquim Silva, the brothers’ father, was overcome with grief during the final viewing of Diogo’s body. As he gazed upon his son, Joaquim broke down, his voice trembling as he whispered, “That wasn’t my son,” a statement that has left those present, including family and close friends, reeling with its emotional weight. The moment, reported by A Bola, underscores the profound devastation of a father grappling with an unimaginable loss.

A Heart-Wrenching Moment at the Wake

The wake, held the day before the funeral at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, was an intimate gathering for family and close associates, including football agent Jorge Mendes and Portugal’s national team coach Roberto Martínez. The chapel, adorned with flowers and photos of Diogo and André, was a somber setting as mourners paid their respects. Joaquim, who had been a stoic figure during public appearances, approached Diogo’s open coffin for the final viewing. According to a family friend cited by A Bola, Joaquim stood silently for a moment before collapsing into sobs, clutching a small football-shaped keychain—a childhood gift from Diogo. His words, “That wasn’t my son,” echoed through the chapel, stunning those nearby, including a priest who paused to comfort him.

The statement, laden with grief, was not about the physical state of Diogo’s body but rather a reflection of Joaquim’s emotional disconnection. Dr. Sofia Mendes, a Porto-based grief counselor, explains, “In profound loss, parents sometimes feel the person in the coffin no longer embodies the vitality of their loved one. Joaquim’s words likely express that the lifeless form couldn’t capture Diogo’s spirit—his smile, his energy.” The crash, which occurred on the A-52 highway near Zamora, Spain, after a tire blowout caused the Lamborghini Huracan to burst into flames, left the family grappling with a sudden and brutal loss, amplifying Joaquim’s sense of disbelief.

A Father’s Bond and Sacrifice

Joaquim’s emotional collapse was rooted in a deep bond with Diogo, forged through years of sacrifice. As reported by This Is Anfield, Joaquim and his wife Isabel, factory workers in Gondomar, struggled financially to support Diogo’s football dreams, paying monthly fees for him to play at local club Gondomar until he joined Paços de Ferreira at 16. “It wasn’t easy having two sons in football,” Joaquim told Maisfutbol in 2020, noting Diogo’s humility in never asking for branded boots, aware of the family’s limitations. This sacrifice was symbolized by the keychain, a gift from a seven-year-old Diogo, given with the words, “Pai, you’re my number one fan,” as recalled by a family friend in The Guardian.

During the wake, Joaquim’s breakdown was witnessed by close family, including Rute Cardoso, Diogo’s widow, who wore his training jacket with a hidden note reading, “Rute, my forever. You’re my strength.” The note, revealed publicly post-funeral, mirrored Joaquim’s keychain as a tangible link to Diogo’s love. Isabel, too, had her moment of grief, whispering to Diogo’s coffin, “You left me your strength,” during the funeral, as reported in earlier accounts. These gestures highlight the family’s intimate ways of coping with loss, each clutching a piece of Diogo’s memory.

The Funeral and Community Mourning

The funeral on July 5 drew hundreds, including Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, who carried floral tributes shaped like Diogo’s No. 20 and André’s No. 30 jerseys, and Portugal stars like Bruno Fernandes and Rúben Neves, who served as a pallbearer. The bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda, delivered a homily addressing the family’s pain, saying, “Seeing the mortal remains of a child must be a greater torment, but when there are two urns, there are no words.” The Independent noted the community’s solidarity, with locals like Fábio Silva, a fan who knew the family, emphasizing their humility despite Diogo’s success.

Joaquim’s words at the wake added a haunting layer to the funeral’s narrative. His statement, “That wasn’t my son,” was not repeated publicly, but its impact lingered. A local mourner told BBC News, “Joaquim’s pain was like a wave over us all. It was as if he couldn’t believe Diogo was gone.” The community, gathered outside the church, sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” reflecting the Liverpool ethos that has embraced the family.

The Crash and Its Mysteries

The crash, detailed by AP News, occurred when the brothers’ Lamborghini veered off the A-52 after a tire blowout, bursting into flames. Diogo, advised against flying due to recent lung surgery, was en route to Santander for a ferry to the UK for Liverpool’s pre-season training. Earlier conversations noted a mysterious 11cm metallic shard found near the crash site and unusual steering inputs, but these remain under investigation, with no conclusive evidence of foul play. For Joaquim, these details are secondary to the loss of his sons, as his focus remains on their memory rather than the crash’s mechanics.

A Father’s Grief and Legacy

Joaquim’s breakdown, clutching the keychain, joins other family moments—Rute’s jacket, Isabel’s note—as symbols of love amidst tragedy. Dr. Maria Costa, a Lisbon-based psychologist, notes, “Such statements reflect a parent’s struggle to reconcile the living memory of their child with their loss. Joaquim saw Diogo as vibrant, not still.” Fans on X have rallied around the family, with one post reading, “Joaquim’s words break my heart. YNWA for him and Rute.” A campaign to retire Diogo’s No. 20 at Liverpool gains traction, echoing Fábio Silva’s hope to honor the brothers’ legacy.

The note in Rute’s jacket and Joaquim’s keychain are now cherished relics, much like the floral tributes at Anfield. As The Guardian reported, Diogo’s humility and talent made him a beloved figure, and Joaquim’s words, “That wasn’t my son,” capture a father’s refusal to let death define Diogo’s vibrant life. In Gondomar and beyond, the Jota family’s grief, marked by these poignant moments, continues to unite a global football community in mourning and remembrance.