Scotland captain Andy Robertson has learn out a heartfelt letter from Rute Cardoso, the spouse of his late Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota
Andy Robertson dreamed of taking part in on the similar World Cup as Jota (Picture: FIFA)
Andy Robertson has delivered a heartfelt studying of a letter written by Diogo Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, forward of this summer time’s World Cup. The previous Liverpool left-back shared a detailed bond with Jota, who tragically misplaced his life in a automobile crash final summer time.
Jota, 28, died within the early hours of July 3, 2025 in Zamora, Spain, alongside together with his brother Andre. The devastating incident prompted an amazing wave of tributes from across the globe as these closest to Jota struggled to come back to phrases together with his loss. Floral tributes have been laid exterior Anfield shortly after the information was confirmed.
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Jota’s sons additionally joined Liverpool and Wolves gamers at an emotional Anfield on Boxing Day final 12 months, forward of the primary encounter between the ahead’s two English golf equipment since his premature passing. Cardoso – whom he had married only a fortnight earlier than the deadly crash – watched from the stands because the couple’s sons Dinis and Duarte proudly served as mascots.
Robertson, who’s extensively anticipated to finish a transfer to Tottenham following the World Cup, has disclosed that Cardoso wrote to him personally – sharing deeply transferring phrases about how enormously Jota cherished his friendship together with his Reds team-mate. She additionally urged the 32-year-old to fulfil his dream of representing Scotland on the World Cup, and to take action in honour of each himself and Jota.
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Studying out the letter in a video on FIFA’s YouTube channel, Robertson mentioned: “Andy I am writing to you with a coronary heart stuffed with longing, gratitude and above all satisfaction. Diogo [Jota] typically spoke of you, of the friendship you constructed, the battles you fought collectively, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about soccer and about desires.
Robertson and Jota have been good associates (Picture: Getty)
“The World Cup was a type of desires, a dream that the 2 of you nurtured facet by facet with the identical ardour with which you took to the pitch. Once I heard your phrases and learnt what you felt on that day when Scotland certified for the World Cup after so a few years of ready, I realised that Diogo by no means actually left the pitch.
“By attaining that second and securing your home on the World Cup, you will not be going alone; you may be taking his dream with you too. And if you step onto the pitch, I do know it will not be simply you strolling out; Diogo can be with you in your ideas, in your steps, in your coronary heart.
“So, at present I need to thanks. Thanks for not forgetting him. Thanks for taking him with you. Thanks for turning the ache of loss into power and into one thing so stunning. That is how we do it right here at house too, daily. He can be and is extremely happy with you.
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“Cherish that dream, Andy. Dwell it for your self and for him. With love, gratitude and all my assist, Rute Cardoso.” The Scotland captain revealed how he and his former Anfield colleague would regularly focus on their shared ambition of reaching the World Cup. The defender additionally defined how they’d ponder what collaborating in soccer’s grandest match would symbolize for each of them.
After studying the letter, Robertson mentioned: “It is clearly wonderful of Rute to even take the time for what she’s going via, to put in writing me a letter, however it simply sums up the individual that she is. Fortunately, I acquired to know her and the wonderful occasions that they’d. Clearly, I would been to their wedding ceremony, celebrated trophies together with her and Jots [Jota].
“However then clearly I’ve seen how heartbroken all of us have been, however specifically her, when clearly Jots left us. Simply, thanks. That letter will stick with me for a really very long time. And we have simply acquired to hold him with us. We’ll all the time ensure that his title won’t ever be forgotten, that his reminiscences will all the time be cherished like Rute says in there, the desires that we would shared of making an attempt to be on the World Cup.
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“Clearly, I feel [the] 2022 World Cup was when me and Jots actually grew to become shut. He missed out due to damage. Clearly, Scotland by no means certified. And I feel we simply spoke a lot about what it will imply to us each to be on the subsequent World Cup, and that was the goal for each of us, to get to America.
“And clearly, I am simply gutted that was taken away from him. However I feel clearly I am going to carry him in my coronary heart, and I do know he’ll be with me come the primary recreation, come the second recreation, come the third recreation, and hopefully past that. And he is all the time there. He is all the time one thing we take into consideration.
“The reminiscences are all the time one thing that we deliver up and typically snicker, typically cry. I feel that can be no completely different, particularly going right into a match which is stuffed with emotion. I do know he’ll be proper on the entrance of my thoughts. I am not solely simply taking part in for me, I am taking part in for each of us.”
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