Ruben Neves Reveals Ongoing WhatsApp Conversations with Late Diogo Jota
Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves disclosed that he still sends WhatsApp messages to his late friend and former teammate Diogo Jota, almost a year after Jota’s death in a car crash.
Speaking on SIC’s Alta Definição, Neves said he and Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, maintain a private WhatsApp group that still includes Jota’s account.
The group serves as a space to share special moments in memory of the footballer, and Neves archives the chats so he can continue messaging Jota whenever something important occurs.
“I still talk to him. Few people know this,” Neves said, noting that the conversations remain accessible on his WhatsApp.
Jota died on July 3, 2025, at age 28, after a Lamborghini tyre blowout in Spain’s Zamora province claimed both him and his brother Andre Silva.
The loss shocked the football community; Neves described the day after learning of the news as the most difficult of his life.
Neves played alongside Jota at FC Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers and for the Portugal national team.
Days after the anniversary of what would have been Jota’s wedding, his widow shared the speech he gave on their wedding day.
Portugal teammate Vitinha revealed that wristbands given to the squad by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro bear each player’s name, with Jota’s name added as a special tribute.
Jota earned 49 caps and scored 14 goals for Portugal before his passing, and his memory continues to inspire the national team as they prepare for upcoming tournaments.
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