Ruben Neves still messages Diogo Jota in WhatsApp group almost a year after his death

Ruben Neves has revealed he still sends messages to Diogo Jota in a WhatsApp group that remains active almost a year after the Liverpool forward’s death. Jota died on July 3, 2025, aged 28, when his Lamborghini left the road in the Spanish province of Zamora after a tyre blowout. His brother, André Silva, also perished in the crash.

Speaking on Portuguese television programme Alta Definição, Neves — who played alongside Jota at Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers and for the Portuguese national side between 2016 and 2020 — described how he processes his grief.

“I still talk to him. Few people know this,” the 29-year-old said. “We have a WhatsApp group with Rute [Jota’s widow] and Diogo, and it’s still there, and we continue to talk there. Whenever something special happens, I have the conversations archived on my WhatsApp so I can continue to send him messages.”

Neves also described the day after learning of Jota’s death as “the most difficult day” of his life.

The tributes to Jota have extended beyond private grief. His widow, Rute Cardoso, marked what would have been their first wedding anniversary last week by sharing the speech Jota delivered on their wedding day, June 22, 2025 — just over a week before his death. In the footage posted to Instagram, Jota told her: “Where the future takes us, maybe there’s someone here who knows better than I do. But the truth is, I don’t know and it doesn’t really matter to me as long as I’m with you. I love you forever, my ‘Branquinha.’” The couple had been together for over a decade and had three children.

Portugal are also honouring Jota at this summer’s World Cup in North America, with the squad wearing commemorative wristbands bearing the names of all 26 players in Roberto Martinez’s party alongside Jota’s. The wristbands were presented to the squad by Portugal’s Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, before the tournament began.

PSG midfielder Vitinha spoke about the gesture ahead of Portugal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo, explaining the significance of carrying Jota’s name into the competition.