Former Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson has shared an emotional letter from Diogo Jota’s late wife, Rute Cardoso, ahead of this summer’s World Cup
Andy Robertson was close friends with Diogo Jota at Liverpool (Image: FIFA)
Andy Robertson has read out an emotional letter from Diogo Jota’s late wife, Rute Cardoso, ahead of this summer’s World Cup. The former Liverpool left-back was good friends with Jota, who died in a car accident last summer.
Jota, 28, passed away in the early hours of July 3, 2025 in Zamora, Spain, alongside his brother Andre. The tragic incident led to an outpouring of support from across the world as Jota’s family and friends came to terms with his passing. Floral tributes were laid outside Anfield soon after the news was confirmed.
Jota’s sons joined Liverpool and Wolves stars at an emotional Anfield on Boxing Day last year before the first meeting of the forward’s two English clubs since his tragic death. Cardoso – whom he married two weeks before the car crash – watched from the stands as the couple’s sons Dinis and Duarte served as mascots.
And Robertson, who is set to seal a move to Tottenham after the World Cup, has revealed that Cardoso sent a letter to him – sharing some emotional words about just how much Jota valued the friendship of his Reds colleague. She also told the 32-year-old to go and live his dream of playing for Scotland at the World Cup, and to do it for both himself and Jota.
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Reading out the heartfelt letter in a video on FIFA’s YouTube channel, Robertson says: “Andy I’m writing to you with a heart full of longing, gratitude and above all pride. Diogo [Jota] often spoke of you, of the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football and about dreams.
“The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that the two of you nurtured side by side with the same passion with which you took to the pitch. When I heard your words and learnt what you felt on that day when Scotland qualified for the World Cup after so many years of waiting, I realised that Diogo never truly left the pitch.
“By achieving that moment and securing your place at the World Cup, you won’t be going alone; you’ll be taking his dream with you too. And when you step onto the pitch, I know it won’t be just you walking out; Diogo will be with you in your thoughts, in your steps, in your heart.
Diogo Jota and Andy Robertson were very close friends at Liverpool(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“So, today I want to thank you. Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for taking him with you. Thank you for turning the pain of loss into strength and into something so beautiful. That’s how we do it here at home too, every day. He would be and is incredibly proud of you.
“Cherish that dream, Andy. Live it for yourself and for him. With love, gratitude and all my support, Rute Cardoso.”
The Scotland captain shared how he and his former Anfield team-mate would often talk about their dream of reaching the World Cup. The defender also shared how they would discuss what it would mean for both of them to be part of football’s biggest stage.
After reading the letter, Robertson said: “It’s obviously amazing of Rute to even take the time for what she’s going through, to write me a letter, but it just sums up the person that she is. Thankfully, I got to know her and the amazing times that they had. Obviously, I’d been to their wedding, celebrated trophies with her and Jots [Jota].
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“But then obviously I’ve seen how heartbroken we all were, but in particular her, when obviously Jots left us. Just, thank you. That letter will stay with me for a very long time. And we’ve just got to carry him with us. We will always make sure that his name will never be forgotten, that his memories will always be cherished like Rute says in there, the dreams that we’d shared of trying to be at the World Cup.
“Obviously, I think [the] 2022 World Cup was when me and Jots really became close. He missed out because of injury. Obviously, Scotland never qualified. And I think we just spoke so much about what it would mean to us both to be at the next World Cup, and that was the aim for both of us, to get to America.
“And obviously, I’m just gutted that was taken away from him. But I think obviously I’ll carry him in my heart, and I know he’ll be with me come the first game, come the second game, come the third game, and hopefully beyond that. And he’s always there. He’s always something we think about.
“The memories are always something that we bring up and sometimes laugh, sometimes cry. I think that will be no different, especially going into a tournament which is full of emotion. I know he’ll be right at the front of my mind. I’m not only just playing for me, I’m playing for both of us.”