Jota's widow urges Robertson to carry his World Cup dream to the finals

Diogo Jota’s widow has written a deeply personal letter to Andy Robertson, urging the Scotland captain to carry her late husband’s World Cup dream with him after Robertson led his country to qualification for the first time since 1998.

Rute Cardoso, the mother of Jota’s three children, addressed Robertson in the letter — published by FIFA — following Scotland’s victory over Denmark that secured their place at the tournament. Robertson had spoken openly of Jota in the immediate aftermath of that result, revealing his friend had been on his mind throughout the campaign.

“Diogo often spoke of you,” Cardoso wrote. “Of the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football… and about dreams. The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that the two of you nurtured, side by side, with the same passion with which you took to the pitch.”

The pair had first spoken of their shared ambition during the 2022 World Cup, where they trained together after Jota missed out on the Portugal squad through injury. Jota died in a road accident four months ago at the age of 28, alongside his brother Andre Silva.

“By achieving that moment and securing your place at the World Cup, you won’t be going alone,” Cardoso continued. “You’ll be taking his dream with you too. And when you step on to the pitch, I know it won’t just be you walking out — Diogo will be with you in your thoughts, in your steps, in your heart.”

She closed with a direct appeal to Robertson: “Cherish that dream, Andy. Live it for yourself and for him.”

Filmed by FIFA reading the letter aloud, Robertson — who is set to join Tottenham this summer — said the gesture reflected exactly the kind of person Cardoso is. “It just sums up the person that she is,” the 32-year-old said. “That letter will stay with me for a very long time.”

He added: “I’ll carry him in my heart and I know he’ll be with me come the first game, come the second game, come the third game and hopefully beyond that. He’s always there.”