Portugal star Ruben Neves has paid yet another emotional tribute to team-mate and close friend Diogo Jota following the footballer’s death aged 28, as Portugal met up for the first time since the player’s passing.
Jota and his brother, Andre, passed away at the start of July in a car crash that shook the footballing world, with the game coming together to remember the duo in several ways.
Portugal is set to play for the first time since the tragic incident this week, with the team to face Armenia and Hungary in World Cup qualifiers over the next fortnight.
Tributes continue to flood in, with the nation first naming 23 players and leaving one spot vacant for Jota, who made 49 appearances for the senior Portugal team and scored 14 goals.
Some of the most heartbreaking tributes, however, have come through Neves, who cut an emotional figure at Jota’s funeral and has supported the star’s widow, Rute Cardoso, who married Jota 11 days before his death.
Now, in a training session while on international duty on Tuesday, Neves sported a new tattoo, which is on his left calf and shows him and Jota hugging.
Neves and Wolves played together for Porto, Wolves, and Portugal, featuring on the pitch at the same time a total of 164 times.
Neves is also set to now wear Jota’s shirt number for Portugal – 21 – to carry his friend’s legacy. Liverpool has retired Jota’s No. 20 shirt.
The news was confirmed by Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, who said: ‘The No 21 jersey will go to Ruben Neves because, that way, that number will remain on the field and with all of us.
‘He had a very close relationship with Diogo and is the ideal person to represent him.’
A special ceremony celebrating Jota’s life was held on Tuesday, too, with Rute present to unveil a framed bronze Portugal shirt with Jota’s name and number on it at the nation’s training base in Lisbon.
She was also awarded a special medal, alongside Jota’s parents.
The ceremony was attended by the Portugal team – including Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed the funeral – as well as Jota’s family, Portugal FA officials, agent Jorge Mendes, and Portugal’s president and Prime Minister.
At the event, Neves delivered a speech, which also featured a video showing Neves reading a handwritten letter to Jota.
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