The footballing world remains in a state of mourning following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and the void can be felt deeply within the Portugal national team dressing room. AC Milan superstar Rafael Leao has now spoken candidly about the “devastating” impact the loss has had on the squad as they prepare for life without the forward. Jota, who had recently secured the Premier League title with Liverpool, passed away in a car accident in Zamora, Spain, alongside his brother, after a tyre blowout caused their vehicle to veer off the road.

AFP

What Rafael Leao said?

Speaking in an emotional interview with CBS, Leao reflected on the personal moments that defined Jota’s personality. He said: “Everyone cared about him. Even if sometimes he was in his corner talking with his wife or kids. But he was a good team-mate and always wanted to help everyone, even me sometimes. Sometimes I used to ask him for a few things and he would also ask me for tickets for his family. To come to AC Milan to watch some games.”

The depth of feeling for Jota was evident during his funeral in July, which saw a massive gathering of footballing figures pay their respects. Portugal team-mates Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Neves were all in attendance, alongside former Liverpool colleague Fabinho. The presence of Porto president Andre Villas-Boas and national team manager Roberto Martinez underscored the impact Jota had across every level of the Portuguese game.

Using tragedy as World Cup inspiration

With the World Cup in North America looming on the horizon, the Portuguese squad is determined to turn their grief into a driving force on the pitch. Portugal has never won the ultimate prize in international football, having been eliminated in the quarter-finals in Qatar by Morocco. Now, they see the upcoming tournament as an opportunity to secure the trophy in Jota’s memory, ensuring that his legacy is cemented with the greatest honour in the sport.
When asked if the tragedy would serve as inspiration for the Selecao, Leao was clear that Jota is never far from their thoughts during matchdays. He explained: “Every game we think about him. Always after a game he was there celebrating and if he could score a goal. And every game we think about him.”