In a heartfelt moment before their FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal match against Palmeiras on July 5, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Chelsea winger Pedro Neto joined his teammates in a minute’s silence to honor his close friend and former teammate, Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away on July 3, 2025. Jota, a Liverpool forward, and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident in northwest Spain, sending shockwaves through the football community. The tribute, held before Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Palmeiras, saw Neto visibly emotional, reflecting the deep bond he shared with Jota from their time together at Wolverhampton Wanderers (2019-2020) and with the Portugal national team, where they won the 2019 UEFA Nations League.
Context of the Tribute
Chelsea Football Club, along with players and staff, observed the minute’s silence ahead of their final training session in Miami on July 3 and again before the match, as confirmed by the club’s official statement on X: “Ahead of today’s training session, Chelsea Football Club held a minute’s silence in memory of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. Our thoughts are with their friends and family. 💙”. Neto, 25, who missed Thursday’s training session after learning of Jota’s death, was supported by manager Enzo Maresca, who left the decision to play entirely up to him. Maresca stated, “Pedro is very sad, probably more than sad, but we are close to Pedro to support him. It’s completely Pedro’s decision [to play].”. Despite his grief, Neto chose to start, channeling his emotions into a performance that culminated in him scoring the match-winning goal in the 78th minute, which he dedicated to Jota with a gesture to the sky, as reported by ESPN.
Neto’s Connection with Jota
Neto and Jota’s friendship was forged during their time at Wolves, where they played together in 67 matches, combining for 12 direct goal involvements. Their partnership continued with Portugal, notably in the 2019 Nations League triumph, where Jota came off the bench for Neto in the final. Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, who spent time with Neto on the morning of July 3, hinted at the possibility of Neto honoring Jota on the pitch, saying, “I told him that if he’s going to play, then he will score because that is destiny.”. Neto’s decision to play and his subsequent goal—a curling shot from the edge of the box—became a poignant tribute, with Cucurella adding, “We send all our love to [Jota’s] family, the wife, the kids, from me, the whole Chelsea squad, and football.”.
Match Outcome and Sentiment
Chelsea’s 1-0 win, secured by Neto’s goal, advanced them to the semifinals against either Fluminense or Al-Hilal. Posts on X captured the emotional weight of Neto’s performance, with @futbolhub7 noting, “Pedro Neto’s goal was for Diogo. Absolute class.” The football world’s response, including tributes from Portugal’s Roberto Martinez, Liverpool’s Arne Slot, and former teammates like Jordan Henderson, underscored Jota’s impact. Liverpool retired Jota’s No. 20 jersey, and fans left flowers outside Anfield, reflecting the global mourning..
Neto’s tribute, both in the moment of silence and his match-defining goal, highlighted his resilience and the football community’s unity in honoring Jota, whose legacy as a 28-year-old star with 63 goals in 149 Liverpool games endures. For Neto, the moment was a way to process his grief while celebrating his friend’s memory on a global stage.
