Rute Cardoso took to Instagram following Liverpool’s game against Wolves
Rute Cardoso has thanked fans for the love during an “incredibly difficult time” in an emotional Instagram post. Diogo Jota’s wife was in attendance at Anfield with her children for the game against Wolves on Saturday afternoon.
Their sons Dinis and Duarte were mascots for the day during an emotional afternoon inside Anfield. Ahead of the game Dinis and Duarte walked out onto the pitch with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk in a poignant moment as the two Premier League sides Jota played for faced for the first time since his tragic death.
Van Dijk then took Dinis and Duarte over to the Kop and enjoyed a kickabout with them as the crowd applauded. Before the match, Wolves fans had gathered at the memorial to Jota outside Anfield – with many leaving tributes.
Liverpool won the game 2-1 with goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz. Gravenberch celebrated his goal by doing Jota’s trademark baby shark celebration.
Jota’s wife, Rute 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. The pair accompanied Reds captain Virgil van Dijk and Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa on to the pitch as the crowd delivered a deeply moving rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Liverpool Football Club posted an emotional video of Jota’s children as mascots for the day and in the clip it shows Van Dijk giving Rute a hug ahead of the game.
Following the game, Jota’s wife posted on Instagram she posted pictures of her children from the day alongside the message: “From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the club and to all the fans for the love, respect and support shown during this incredibly difficult time. Your messages and gestures have meant more than words can express.”
The Liverpool captain said it was “an honour” to have Jota’s sons walk out with him ahead of the game.
Speaking to the club’s official website he said: “It was an absolute honour to have the boys with me and Ali (Becker) as well together. I think it was something I was really looking forward to. Obviously after discussions with Rute and the family it was really something I looked forward to.
“It was going to be emotional, but I think it’s something that the boys will remember forever.
“Hopefully there’s more to come in the future for them and they can keep enjoying Liverpool because Liverpool is the place that’s very big to their hearts and Diogo will always stay with us forever.
“I was very proud to have them with us and the fans I think appreciated that as well.”
Liverpool supporters continue to honour Jota by chanting his name during the 20th minute of every fixture, a touching gesture that reflects his squad number, which the club has permanently retired in the striker’s memory.
Fans shared their messages of support with the family in the comments of her post on Instagram. @envis8 said: “It was lovely to see you all at Anfield today, I hope we’ve made you proud.
“Diogo was definitely smiling from up there watching his sons running at Anfield.”
@theliverpoolzone_ wrote: “I hope you know that we love you so much and that you will never walk alone.”
“God bless you and your family. We will always love him. YNWA,” commented @davedesiigns.
Of those to share heart emojis on the post was former Wolves and Portugal teammate Jose Sa, with Kostas Tsimikas, who is on loan at Roma from Liverpool, commenting: “Forever.”
