Diogo Jota's widow in heartbreaking tribute to Liverpool star on daughter's birthday

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Diogo Jota's widow Rute Cardoso has shared a touching tribute to her late husband on the birthday of their youngest daughter. The Liverpool star tragically died in July in a car accident in Spain, alongside his brother Andre Silva .

Jota was just 28 at the time of his death, and the world of football stood still as loved ones, team-mates and fans worldwide paid tribute to the Liverpool hero and his brother, with a funeral held in Jota's hometown of Gondomar, Portugal . And now, Rute has taken to social media to mark their daughter's first birthday.

The two share three children together in a son named Dinis, who was born in 2021, and two daughters who entered the world in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

Jota announced that Rute was pregnant with their third child when he scored a disallowed goal against Czechia at Euro 2024 , celebrating by putting the ball under his shirt, moments before his strike was chalked off.

The couple regularly shared updated alongside one another; Rute often taking to the stands to watch her husband as he played for Liverpool, after making the move to Merseyside in 2020 .

And in a recent post to celebrate their daughter's first birthday, Rute took to social media to share a carousel of heart-warming snaps captioned: "A whole year," with heart and star emojis, reports the Liverpool Echo .

One of the photos showed Jota carrying his daughter out of the hospital a year ago, as well as a stunning photo of the family on the hallowed turf of Anfield. And a number of Rute's followers were quick to comment on her upload.

One wrote: "He is watching. We love you and your family," while a second said: "Beautiful family, how much I admire you Rute." A third added: "Happy Birthday princess. May you always have good health and that beautiful smile."

Rute opened up about her husband's death in July. The two married just over a week before Jota passed away.

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She shared photos of the couple dancing at their wedding, as well as a close-up of them holding hands. In the caption, translated from Portuguese to English, she wrote: "One month of our ‘until death do us part’. Forever, your white girl.”

It comes after Jota's former team-mate in Trent Alexander-Arnold paid a touching tribute to the forward ahead of Liverpool's Champions League clash with Real Madrid earlier this month. The Liverpudlian, who parted ways with Anfield to join Los Blancos this summer, laid flowers outside Liverpool's home stadium ahead of the match.

He also left a letter, which read: "My mate Diogo, you are so missed but still so loved. Yours and Andre's memory will always live on.

"I smile every time I think about you and will always remember the great times we shared. Miss you mate, every day. Forever 20, YNWA. Love, Trent and family."

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