Portugal midfielder, Ruben Neves, has revealed that he still sends WhatsApp messages to his late friend and former teammate, Diogo Jota, nearly one year after the Liverpool forward died in a tragic car crash.
Neves made the emotional disclosure while speaking on SIC’s Alta Definição, saying he and Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, had kept a WhatsApp group which still includes Jota’s account.
According to him, the group has remained a private space where special moments are shared in memory of the late footballer.
Neves said he still sends messages to Jota whenever something important happens, adding that the conversations have been archived on his WhatsApp.
“I still talk to him. Few people know this,” Neves said.
“We have a WhatsApp group with Rute and Diogo, and it’s still there. Whenever something special happens, I have the conversations archived on my WhatsApp so I can continue to send him messages.”
Jota died on July 3, 2025, at the age of 28, after the Lamborghini he was travelling in with his brother, Andre Silva, crashed in Spain’s Zamora province following a reported tyre blowout.
Both brothers were killed in the accident, a development that sent shockwaves across the football world.
Neves played alongside Jota at FC Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Portugal national team.
The midfielder described the day after learning of Jota’s death as “the most difficult day” of his life.
His revelation came days after Jota’s widow marked what would have been their wedding anniversary by sharing the speech the former Liverpool forward delivered on their wedding day.
Naija News reports that ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Portuguese players were presented with commemorative wristbands bearing Jota’s name.
Portugal midfielder Vitinha said the wristbands, which were presented to the squad by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, carry the names of every player alongside the special inclusion of Jota’s name.
“They made sure it was a wristband that we could wear on the pitch. It has the names of all the players plus the special name of Diogo Jota,” Vitinha said.
Jota earned 49 caps and scored 14 goals for Portugal before his death.
His teammates said his memory continues to inspire the national team as they prepare for the tournament.
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