Diogo Jota Family: Parents, Wife, Children & Background

The football world awoke to the news of Diogo Jota's untimely and extremely shocking demise. After donning the No. 20 jersey for Liverpool, he helped the club equal Manchester United's record of winning 20 English league titles this past season, bringing joy and cheer to the Merseyside faithful. However, his untimely passing would surely cast dark clouds over Anfield as many fans paid respects to the talented Portuguese forward. The entire football community, including his fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo and former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, among many others, expressed their shock and disbelief at the incident and paid respects to Diogo Jota's family. Adding to the misery, his brother André Silva also lost his life in the tragic incident. His family supported him throughout his career, and our heartfelt condolences go out to Jota's wife, children, and other family members.

Diogo Jota's Parents

Born on December 4, 1996, Diogo José Teixeira da Silva was the son of Joaquim Silva and Isabel Silva. Diogo Jota's parents supported him throughout his football journey, having raised their children through the hardships of life. Jota was born and bred in Gondomar, a small city on the outskirts of Porto, and played for the local football club to kickstart his career. He joined Paços de Ferreira's youth setup in 2013 from the local football club, Gondomar.

Diogo Jota's Father - Joaquim Silva

Diogo Jota's father became an inspiring figure in his career by participating in every training session and supporting him through every step. Although there's not much information regarding his occupation, Joaquim Silva didn't stand in the way of his son's ambition to play football. Jota and his brother were close to their father, and football was a natural part of their lives.

Diogo Jota's Mother - Isabel Silva

While Jota's father raised him to become a football player, his mother, Isabel Silva, became his pillar of support. There's not much information regarding her occupation, but she raised two boys, determined to make a mark in football.

Siblings - André Silva

Diogo Jota had a younger brother, André Filipe Teixeira da Silva, who followed in his brother's footsteps and became a football player. He played for FC Penafiel, a Portuguese second division club, in the midfield. Unfortunately, according to police reports, he too passed away with Diogo Jota in a car crash near Zamora, Spain.

Diogo Jota Family Background

Diogo Jota, his brother, and his parents came from modest beginnings, and the two brothers worked hard to get their way in football. Jota debuted on October 19, 2014, for Paços de Ferreira, who promoted him after he impressed the club in their youth setup. But life was never easy during the initial stages of his career. During the 2012-13 season at Paços de Ferreira, medical experts diagnosed Diogo Jota with a heart problem. It happened during his youth career days, and he missed the entire pre-season.

However, according to the Telegraph, the forward kept his composure and never shed a tear. Gilberto Andrade, the team’s youth football co-ordinator when Jota played for Paços de Ferreira, seemed unfazed and spoke about the incident back then. “We never made a big deal of it – these situations happen very often and are usually clarified right after. He always remained calm,” said Andrade.

From there, Jota worked hard on his game, and his family supported him through thick and thin. He played 47 games for the club, scoring 18 goals and creating 14 assists.

Diogo Jota's Wife

After getting married on June 22, 2025, all the happy memories turned into a nightmare for Diogo Jota's wife Rute Cardoso following the former's untimely passing. She even posted an Instagram reel of their luxury wedding, celebrating their milestone. Thoughts and prayers are with Rute Cardoso, who met Jota during middle school and started their relationship. She followed him to Spain and then England, where he played for Wolverhampton Wanderers at first and then started his journey with Liverpool.

Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso: Relationship Timeline

The couple started dating in 2012 and supported each other through every challenge life put towards them. They met in middle school at Porto and embarked on their romantic journey for a long time. In a romantic lakeside setting, Jota proposed to Cardoso as the couple got engaged in July 2022, 10 years after they started their relationship. Moreover, the couple married after three years in a private ceremony on June 22, 2025, surrounded by their three children and family members. Rute Cardoso posted a picture on Instagram and captioned it, “June 22, 2025. Yes to forever,” while Jota commented, "A day we will never forget." It's genuinely difficult to fathom how he passed away just days after sharing heartfelt vows.

Diogo Jota's Children

Jota and Cardoso had three beautiful children while they were in a relationship. Jota's first son, Dinis, was born in February 2021, and the couple welcomed him with open arms. His second child, Duarte, was born in March 2023. He had posted an Instagram post with his wife and first son celebrating his partner's baby bump, commenting, “Second baby on the way 🤰🏻⚽️🤩.”

His youngest daughter was born in November 2024, but the couple did not disclose the child's name to the public. The couple often posted pictures of their family on Instagram, dressed together in matching colours, and enjoying life to the fullest. The children also walked down the aisle during Jota and Cardoso's wedding ceremony.