In the Portuguese cemetery of Gondomar, where Diogo Jota and his brother were laid to rest today, the smell of flowers is overpowering.
Liverpool winger Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 25, were killed when their Lamborghini crashed in the early hours of Thursday morning in northern Spain.
Just 11 days before, Jota married his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso, also 28, who is the mother of his two sons Dinis, four, and Duarte, two as well as his baby daughter Mafalda, who is just eight months old.
Almost every person who spoke to the Mail told of their anguish at the thought of the brother’s parents losing two sons and of Jota’s new bride losing the love of her life.
But while his distraught family and the whole of Portugal mourned, one notable face was missing – Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s talismanic striker, was not at the funeral or the wake.
This afternoon, furious mourners criticised the Portugal captain for not attending.
Liliana Monteito, 44, paid her respects to Jota and his brother at the cemetery after the funeral with her son Paulo, 16.
Liliana told MailOnline: ‘He’s the captain of the team. It’s really sad to see all the [players from] Liverpool come here to Portugal but [from] the Portuguese team, only a few players come. I saw many fake videos of him coming here but it didn’t happen.
‘I feel there was low support from the Portuguese team. It’s really, really sad for the family and also for Portugal.’
Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota stand together during their UEFA Euro 2024 match agaisnt the Czech Republic in June last year. The Portugal captain did not attend his teammate’s funeral in Gondomar on Saturday
Jota pictured during his wedding with wife Rute Cardoso – who he shares three young children with – on June 22. The footballer died in a car accident with his brother just days later
Andre (left) and Diogo pictured in their Porto FC kits. The pair both played for the team’s academy
Liliana Monteito, 44, pictured with her son Paulo, 16. She said it was ‘really sad’ not see Ronaldo attend the funeral of his teammate Jota
Porto fan Martim Fonseca and his brother Felix. Martim said it was ‘a surprise’ they didn’t see Ronaldo attend the funeral
After the funeral, Portugal manager Roberto Martinez said: ‘These are really, really sad days, as you can imagine.
‘But today we showed we are a large, close family. We are Portugal and it was esssential for us that for Andre Silva and Diogo Jota, we are together and we will always be together.
‘Their spirit will be with us forever.’
However, Liliana said the fact Ronaldo and other members of the Portugal squad did not come told another story. She said: ‘We didn’t see a team. Not at all.’
Other fans told MailOnline at their sadness that their greatest player had not shown his support in this most tragic hour.
Portugal fan Ines Almeida was seen in tears at Diogo Jota and Andre Silva’s wake yesterday. Today, she watched the funeral from the road in front of the church.
She said she was angry at the Portuguese captain for not showing his face.
Porto fan Martim Fonseca, who also stood outside the church, said: ‘It’s a surprise we didn’t see him here. It’s sad.’
Portugal fan Carla Matos with her son Alfonso and husband Paulo. Carla said her son was ‘disappointed’ that Ronaldo wasn’t at the funeral
Portugal fan Ines Almeida, who watched the funeral from the road in front of the church, said she was angry at the Portuguese captain for not showing his face
Ines was seen in tears at Diogo Jota and Andre Silva’s wake yesterday
Ines is seen wrapped in the Portuguese flag as she appeared emotional during a public wake for Jota and his brother Andre on Friday
The coffins of Diogo Jota And Andre Silva are carried by family, former teammates and friends into the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar where the funeral is being held
Liverpool stars Jordan Henderson, Alexis Mac Allister and James Milner leave the funeral of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar
Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk, defender Joe Gomez and defender Andy Robertson leave the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar following Jota and Andre’s funeral service
Liverpool manager Arne Slot leaves the funeral of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva
Portugal fan Carla Matos was watching the funeral with her son Alfonso and husband Paulo. She said her son was ‘disappointed’ that Ronaldo wasn’t at the funeral.
Carla added: ‘We are very upset. I’m surprised he didn’t come.’
Cristiano has been holidaying Majorca, with videos supposedly showing him swimming of the coast of the Meditterranean island, Majorcan newspaper Ultima Hora reported on Friday.
It went on to report the Portuguese star had been seen in the upmarket resort of Illetes on Majorca’s south-west coastline and the port of Andratx on board his £5.5 million 88-feet long Azimut Grande yacht.
Cristiano last holidayed in Majorca with his family three years ago.
Liverpool stars Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and manager Arne Slot travelled to Portugal to pay their respects, while other teammates including Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott joined them.
Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias and Manchester United’s back Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes all Portuguese national team players, were among the footballers who packed into the church this morning – the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.
Portugal internationals Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves, seen in tears on Friday night before their Club World Cup clash in Orlando, also made it to the church on time along with Portugal manager Roberto Martinez.
Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves arrives at the funeral of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva in the town of Gondomar
Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo cuts a solemn figure as he arrives for the funeral of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva
Manchester City defender Ruben Dias arrives at the funeral of his Portugal teammate Diogo Jota in the town of Gondomar near Porto
Dias wore all black as he carried a bouquet of flowers inside the church ahead of the ceremony
Manchester City Bernardo Silva arrives for the funeral of his Portugal teammate Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva who both died on Thursday
Manchester United and Portugal player Bruno Fernandes arrives at the funeral of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar
Thousands lined the streets today to pay tribute to the two brothers from Gondomar, near Porto.
When the Liverpool team arrived, they were greeted with applause from the crowd.
The Penafiel team, who Jota’s brother Andre wore the number 30 shirt for, received a similar welcome.
The crowds fell silent at 10am today as the Jota family bore the two brothers’ coffins into the parish church.
Jota’s wife of just 11 days, Rute Cardoso, 28, had to be held up by a friend as she wept and clung onto her husband’s casket.
Dressed completely in white less than two weeks after their wedding, she clutched a cream-coloured rose as she bravely walked past the crowds into the church.
During the service, the bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda spoke directly to Jota’s children, who didn’t not attend the service.
He said: ‘Dear Dinis, Mafalda and Duarte, children who are not here.
Virgil Van Dijk, who held a flower arrangement in the shape of Diogo’s shirt with the number 20 and Andy Robertson, who carried a red shirt bearing Andre’s number 30
Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez (left) and Federico Chiesa (right) arrive for the funeral of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva
Curtis Jones (left) Jordan Henderson (third from left), James Milner (third from right) and Ryan Gravenberch (right) arrive at the funeral of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva
Floral tributes bearing the shirt numbers of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva are placed on their graves in a cemetery in Gondomar
Mourners gather to pay their respects at the graves of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva are in a cemetery in Gondomar
People attend the funeral of late Portugal’s player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, in Gondomar
Mourners gather outside the Chapel of the Resurrection, on the day of Jota and his brother Andre’s funeral ceremony
‘Right now you suffer immensely or maybe not because you don’t realise it. I will pray a lot for you.
‘Those who suffer a lot are your mother and your grandparents. Seeing the remains of a child must be a great torment, but when there are two coffins there are no words.
‘But there are feelings. We are here to say that we also suffer a lot. We are here affectionately with you. It’s human to cry.’
He added: ‘Your father married 11 days before this event. If it’s hard to see an adult cry, it’s harder to see a child.
‘I send you a special greeting for your mother and grandparents. I’m with you but Jesus is also with you.’
The brothers were buried in Gondomar’s cemetery. Their family will hold a seventh day mass to share stories and pray for them on July 9.
