Adel Elsherif's Articles
Diogo Jota : The Lover, The Father, and The Shared Tragedy
A Romantic Soul in a Ruthless Game
Diogo Jota was more than a footballer. Beneath the fierce competitor was a romantic, gentle soul, a man who loved deeply, lived fully, and cherished the quiet joys of family life.
He didn’t just chase goals on the pitch; he chased happiness at home.
He married his high school sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, a woman he had adored since their school days. She was his angel, his anchor, his joy.
Together, they built a life filled with laughter, children, and even puppies.
And just when their love story reached its most beautiful chapter, fate intervened
Only 11 days after their wedding, tragedy struck. Jota was taken from the world—and from Rute—far too soon. Oh, Providence! How chaotic and fragile this world is.
Jota’s life reminds us to live energetically, without fear, without delay. To love boldly.
To never give up. Because one day, it truly will be our last.
A High School Romance and Recent Vows
On June 22, 2025, Diogo Jota married Rute Cardoso in a quiet ceremony in Porto.
-He described the day as “A day we will never forget”
A moment of pure joy.
In his tribute, Cristiano Ronaldo heartbreakingly noted,
“Just now we married,” underscoring the freshness of their union.
After the wedding, Jota returned to Liverpool following minor lung surgery, choosing to drive instead of fly, a decision that reflected the closeness of these life-changing events.
For this reason, he and his brother were traveling by car to catch a ferry to the UK when the fatal accident occurred.
Given the circumstances, if Jota had been able to travel by airplane, he would have avoided the car journey where the accident
Jota and Rute were proud parents of three children, and his devotion to them was unwavering.
Jürgen Klopp described Jota as a “loving and caring husband and father.” Jota once shared that his son was born in Liverpool and affectionately called a “scouser”, a label he said he “did not mind.”
When asked about his hopes for his children, Jota replied with humility:
“I’d like my son to be a footballer, but I just want my kids to be happy.”
Life Off the Pitch: Puppies and the Couch
Jota’s home life was filled with warmth, chaos, and charm.
Just two weeks before Mafalda was born, Jota’s dog had puppies.
He and his pregnant wife chose to sleep on the couch to stay close to the newborn pups and ensure they were safe.
After giving some away, they kept two puppies, resulting in three beagles roaming their home, Jota described their house as a “full and excited house,” with the dogs and his children walking around, creating a lively, love-filled environment.
This anecdote reveals the kind of man Jota was present, playful, and deeply committed to his family.
Amid the chaos of football and fame, he found peace in the simple things: puppies, children, and the woman he loved.
