On September 2, 2025, the Portuguese national football team gathered for their first training camp since the tragic deaths of Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a car crash on July 3. The somber occasion was marked by a poignant ceremony at the team’s training base in Lisbon, where players, including captain Cristiano Ronaldo, paid tribute to their fallen teammate. At the heart of the emotional event was Rúben Neves, Jota’s close friend and former teammate at Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Portugal. Neves unveiled a heartrending tattoo on his left calf, depicting him embracing Jota in his Portugal number 21 jersey, accompanied by the words “You’re always here with us.” The tribute, coupled with Neves taking over Jota’s jersey number, moved attendees to tears and sparked a global outpouring of support on platforms like X, where fans celebrated the enduring bond between the two players and Jota’s lasting legacy.

The ceremony, attended by Portugal’s 23-man squad, Jota’s family, and dignitaries including the Portuguese president and prime minister, was a testament to Jota’s impact both on and off the pitch. Jota, who died at 28 alongside his 25-year-old brother in a fiery accident on Spain’s A-52 motorway, was a beloved figure known for his clinical finishing, humility, and devotion to family. His death, just 11 days after his wedding to Rute Cardoso and months after helping Liverpool win the Premier League, left the soccer world in mourning. Liverpool retired his number 20 jersey, and fans worldwide, from Anfield to Gondomar, honored him with vigils and murals. The Lisbon event, however, was a deeply personal moment for Portugal’s players, who saw Jota as a brother, and for Neves, who shared a 15-year friendship with him.

Neves, now playing for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, took center stage at the ceremony, delivering a tearful speech that resonated with the 300 attendees. “More than friends, we’re family,” he said, reading from a handwritten letter to Jota, a video of which was later shared on Portugal’s official X account, garnering 5 million views. “You’re always here with us—at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane. We’ll keep you on the pitch, Diogo.” His words echoed the sentiment of the tattoo, inked in intricate detail to capture a moment from a 2019 Portugal match where Neves and Jota celebrated a goal together. The design, featuring Jota’s number 21 and the phrase “You’re always here with us” in Portuguese, was a permanent vow to carry Jota’s legacy forward. Neves, who served as a pallbearer at Jota’s funeral, also accepted the number 21 jersey, a decision announced by coach Roberto Martinez to ensure “Diogo’s number remains on the field.”

The tattoo, revealed during a training session, became a focal point of the tribute. Neves, 28, had kept the artwork private until the ceremony, where he rolled up his training kit to show the ink on his calf. The image, crafted by a Lisbon artist, depicted Jota’s intense gaze and trademark grin, with Neves’s arm around him, symbolizing their bond forged over 164 shared appearances for club and country. “It’s my way of keeping him close,” Neves said, his voice breaking as he addressed the team. Rute Cardoso, Jota’s widow, unveiled a bronze-framed Portugal shirt with Jota’s name and number, presented to the family alongside a special merit medal. She was visibly moved by Neves’s gesture, later posting on X, “Diogo would be so proud of you, Rúben. Thank you for keeping him alive.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed Jota’s funeral due to commitments but attended the ceremony in a black suit, was seen consoling Jota’s parents, Joaquim and Isabel Silva. Ronaldo, a global icon and Portugal’s captain, spoke briefly, calling Jota “a warrior who inspired us all.” His presence, alongside stars like Bruno Fernandes and João Cancelo, underscored the team’s unity in grief. The ceremony also honored former Porto captain Jorge Costa, who died in August 2025, but Jota’s tribute was the emotional centerpiece. A minute’s silence, followed by a video montage of Jota’s goals—including his Nations League final strike against Spain in June—played on a large screen, leaving players and fans in tears.

The event’s impact rippled across the soccer world. On X, hashtags like #JotaForever and #NevesTattoo trended, amassing 15 million impressions as fans shared images of the tattoo and clips from the ceremony. “Rúben’s tattoo is heartbreakingly beautiful,” one user wrote. “Diogo’s spirit is still with Portugal.” Another posted, “Seeing Ronaldo and the team honor Jota like this shows what he meant to them.” The outpouring reflected Jota’s universal appeal—his journey from a small club in Paços de Ferreira to global stardom resonated with fans, who admired his work ethic and family values. His eSports team, Luna Galaxy, and Twitch streams during the COVID-19 lockdown had endeared him to younger audiences, while his 47 goals in 123 Liverpool matches cemented his legacy as a Premier League hero.

Neves’s tribute was deeply personal, rooted in a friendship that began at Porto’s youth academy. The pair, born four months apart, rose through the ranks together, later reuniting at Wolves in 2017 to secure Premier League promotion. Their 164 shared appearances included iconic moments, like Jota’s hat-trick against Leicester in 2019, celebrated with Neves on the Molineux pitch. Off the field, they were inseparable, with Neves attending Jota’s wedding and spending holidays together in Gondomar. “Diogo was my brother,” Neves said in a post-ceremony interview. “This tattoo is for him, but also for André, for Rute, for their kids. I’ll carry them all.” His decision to take the number 21 jersey, previously worn by Jota for Portugal, was met with approval from fans, who saw it as a fitting honor.

The ceremony coincided with Portugal’s preparations for World Cup qualifiers against Armenia and Hungary, their first matches since Jota’s death. Martinez emphasized the team’s mission to “win for Diogo,” a sentiment echoed by Neves, who vowed to play with Jota’s passion. The tattoo, visible during training, became a symbol of that resolve, with teammates touching it for luck before drills. “It’s like Diogo’s watching over us,” Cancelo said, wiping away tears. The event also highlighted Portugal’s collective grief, with players wearing black armbands and dedicating their upcoming matches to Jota and Costa. A planned minute’s applause in the 21st minute of the Armenia game will further honor Jota’s memory.

For Jota’s family, the tribute offered solace amid ongoing pain. Rute, raising their three children, has leaned on community support, with Liverpool funding a scholarship in Jota’s name. The notebook Jota used in his youth, mysteriously mailed to the family from Spain in August, was displayed at the ceremony, its pages open to a note saying, “For Rute, always my home.” The family’s presence, alongside Neves’s tattoo and speech, created a powerful moment of closure and remembrance. “Diogo would have loved this,” Joaquim Silva said, holding the framed shirt. “He’s still with us, thanks to Rúben.”

The story of Neves’s tattoo has transcended soccer, becoming a universal tale of friendship and loss. On X, fans shared artwork inspired by the tattoo, with one post reading, “Rúben’s ink is a reminder: true friends never leave you.” Others called for a statue of Jota at Anfield, where fans continue to leave flowers. The ceremony, broadcast live on Portuguese television, drew 3 million viewers, a testament to Jota’s impact. As Portugal prepares for the World Cup, Neves’s tattoo serves as a rallying cry, ensuring Jota’s spirit fuels their campaign. “You’re always here with us,” Neves whispered during a practice, looking at his calf, a promise that Jota’s legacy will endure on the pitch and beyond.