Diogo Jota's widow attends Ballon d'Or in emotional tribute
Widow Rute Cardoso attends Ballon d'Or in Paris as football world mourns Jota and his late brother
Paris — Diogo Jota's widow attended the Ballon d'Or ceremony Monday in Paris for an emotional tribute to the Liverpool forward who died in July alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in a car crash in northern Spain. Jota had married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, just 11 days before his death, and the couple shared three young children.
A video reel highlighting moments from Jota and Andre Silva was shown at the Theatre du Châtelet as host Kate Scott, alongside Netherlands legend Ruud Gullit, led the tribute. Liverpool teammates Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker were visibly moved as they joined the audience in applause. Rute Cardoso walked the red carpet in a white dress ahead of the ceremony.
Gullit noted that the ceremony carried a poignant message, saying Jota was a fan favorite who gave everything for his club and his nation and was loved by teammates and supporters. A video montage celebrated the late players, and the crowd offered a lasting moment of reflection as their families watched from the theatre.
Tributes to Jota have poured in from across football since his passing, including from his former clubs Liverpool and Wolves, who marked the start of the new Premier League season with memorial gestures. Everton midfielder Beto, also Portuguese, recalled how Jota helped him settle in at Liverpool when he joined in 2023 and revealed that Jota had sent him an Instagram message shortly after his arrival. Beto described Jota as humble and generous in his approach to teammates, a sentiment echoed by many who knew him.
Jota died on July 3 in northern Spain, 11 days after marrying Cardoso. He is survived by his wife and their three children, who have been the subject of tributes from around the sport.
As the football world mourns, the Ballon d'Or ceremony served not only as a showcase of the sport's brightest talents but also as a moment to honor Jota and his brother Andre Silva, whose memories continued to resonate with players and fans alike.