Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson hold wreaths with the numbers 20 and 30.

Photo: Reuters / BBC News Brasil

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Matriz church in Gondomar, Portugal, where the funeral of football star Diogo Jota and his brother, fellow player André Silva, who died in a car accident in Spain on Thursday, is being held.

A large contingent of players from English football team Liverpool, where Jota played, arrived at the church led by captain Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, wearing red crowns with the numbers 20 and 30, corresponding to Diogo and André's shirts.

The players received a solemn applause from fans gathered behind the gates of the Igreja da Matriz. One woman shouted "Força!", BBC journalist Sofia Ferreira Santos said in a report from Portugal.

Liverpool's Uruguayan teammate Dawin Nuñez arrived accompanied by his partner Lorena Navas.
Photo: Getty Images / BBC News Brazil

Liverpool manager Arne Slot (centre) was among a large contingent of Liverpool players who attended the ceremony.
Photo: Getty Images / BBC News Brazil

Portuguese players from Liverpool's rival teams also came to pay tribute to the deceased brothers, as did members and representatives of other Portuguese and world football teams where they played.

It is a time of mourning for the entire football community.

Manchester City player Ruben Dias enters the church watched by a crowd of fans.
Photo: Getty Images / BBC News Brazil

Bernardo Silva, Manchester City
Photo: Getty Images / BBC News Brazil

The fans remembered the — Fans remembered "Penaboy" André Silva, who played for Portuguese team Penafield. The banner reads "Forever one of our own".
Photo: Getty Images / BBC News Brazil

Earlier, Jotta's wife, Rute Cardoso, arrived, as well as Diogo and André's mother and father, accompanied by family members.

The family had requested privacy during the funeral and the assembled crowd respectfully followed the procession of guests outside the church grounds. The silence is total, broken by a ringing bell.

"It's a really moving experience to see players from Liverpool, the Portuguese national team and several other teams that Diogo Jota and André Silva played for entering the church in Godomar," says Ferreira Santos.

Diogo and André's mother, Isabel Silva, can't hold back her tears.
Photo: Getty Images / BBC News Brazil

Roberto Martínez, coach of the Portugal national team, greets the crowd.
Photo: Getty Images / BBC News Brazil

The BBC reporter describes a deep sense of community as they walk together. Many players are visibly affected, wiping away tears as they arrive to say their final goodbyes to their teammates and friends.

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away at Liverpool's Anfield stadium, Diego Jota is also being remembered, with a huge display of flowers for the player who played for the club since 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 games.