🕊️ What happened
Luis Díaz, the Colombian forward at Liverpool and once a close friend of Diogo Jota, did not attend Jota’s funeral in Gondomar, Portugal, on July 5, 2025. Instead, Díaz remained in Colombia—reportedly fulfilling personal and commercial commitments—and was seen at a social event with influencers at the time
In contrast, many Liverpool teammates and former players, including Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Mohamed Salah, and Alisson Becker, did attend the funeral
🗣️ Public reaction
- Fans lambasted Díaz on social media for appearing upbeat at a party while mourning the loss of someone who had previously supported him deeply—most notably, when Diogo Jota dedicated a goal to Díaz during his father’s kidnapping ordeal in 2023. “Não foste ao funeral do teu ‘amigo’… para estares com um monte de influencers? Que vergonha.” (Portugues)“Total falta de empatia de Luis Díaz.” (Brazilian fan)
💬 Díaz’s response
Shortly after learning of Jota’s death on July 3, Díaz posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram:
“Não tenho palavras… Me dói a alma… Há gestos que nunca se esquecem e o Diogo teve um comigo…”
Additionally, in televised interviews, Díaz expressed his grief, saying he “broke down in tears” upon hearing the news and acknowledged the closeness they shared at Liverpool
🚗 Why he didn’t attend
Reportedly, Liverpool officials indicated it was acceptable for players to miss the funeral if travel logistics made it infeasible. Díaz, who was in Barranquilla, faced a journey to Lisbon via Bogotá that could have taken nearly 24 hours, making attendance physically impossible
🔍 Summary
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Why absent | In Colombia on personal and promotional duties, with travel time ~24 hours |
| Fan criticism | Strong backlash on social media due to insensitivity and history of solidarity with Jota |
| Díaz’s tribute | Emotional posts and interviews, showing genuine grief |
| Liverpool’s view | Early communication that attendance was optional due to logistics |
Despite the criticism, Díaz’s emotional reaction and situation illustrate that his absence was likely due to practical constraints, though perceptions online have been harsher due to the emotional weight of Jota’s passing and their shared history.
