After the tragic death of Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota, his wife, Rute Cardoso, broke the silence with a heartbreaking message on social media that moved the sports world and millions of fans.
In a post on her Instagram account, Rute shared three photos along with a brief but profound message that sums up the pain of an irreparable loss:
“One month of our ‘not even death will separate us’ Forever, Your little white girl.”
The images accompanying the message show intimate moments of the couple: one of them portrays their intertwined hands, displaying the wedding rings they exchanged just eleven days before the accident that took Jota’s life.
The other two capture the couple during their wedding, dancing and smiling, in what was one of the happiest days of their lives.
A tragedy that shocked the world of soccer
Diogo Jota, forward for Liverpool and the Portuguese national team, died on July 3rd in a car accident in Zamora, Spain, along with his brother André Silva.
The vehicle they were traveling in went off the road and caught fire. Authorities indicated that a possible tire blowout and speeding caused the accident.
Jota was 28 years old and had just been crowned Premier League champion with Liverpool. Additionally, he was part of the Portuguese national team that recently won the 2025 UEFA Nations League.
His sudden departure prompted tributes from around the world, from clubs, former teammates, public figures, and fans who remember him for his dedication, talent, and humility.
“Forever”: a tribute to love
Rute Cardoso’s message has been interpreted as a tribute to the eternal love she shared with Diogo. “Not even death separates us” not only reflects the bond they had, but also resonates with thousands of people who have shared and made her post go viral, turning it into a symbol of strength and loyalty in the face of loss.
Rute and Diogo got married on June 22, 2025, in a private ceremony in Portugal. In previous interviews, they had shared that they had been together for over a decade and dreamed of growing old together. Today, their love story is marked as one of the saddest and most touching ones that modern sports has experienced.