2026 World Cup: Diogo Jota's wife sends a moving letter to Andrew Robertson
By OnzeActu · · 2 min read
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Diogo Jota's widow invites Andrew Robertson to honor the memory of her husband, who tragically passed away in 2022, by taking their shared dream with him onto the field.
A few weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup, a touching tribute unites two former Liverpool teammates, linked by a deep friendship and the same unfulfilled dream. Rute Cardoso, widow of Diogo Jota, went so far as to write a letter to Andrew Robertson, now captain of Scotland, urging him to carry her husband in his heart when he steps on the pitch at the World Cup.
Diogo Jota, Portuguese striker, died at the age of 28 in a car accident last July, shortly after helping Portugal qualify for the 2022 World Cup, which he was unable to participate in due to a calf injury. Author of 49 caps with Portugal, he never had the opportunity to play in a World Cup final phase.
Andrew Robertson, Scottish defender and close friend of Jota, expressed shortly after Scotland's qualification for this World Cup his emotion and his thoughts for his missing comrade: “I couldn't stop thinking about my friend Diogo Jota today. We talked so much about playing the World Cup together, because he missed it in 2022 just like me before with Scotland. I know he must be smiling for me now. »
Image
In this letter published by FIFA, Rute Cardoso evokes the complicity between the two men: “Diogo often spoke to you about you, the friendship you had built, the fights, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football... and the dreams. The World Cup was one of those dreams that you shared passionately, side by side. »
She continues by emphasizing that thanks to this historic qualification, “Diogo never really left the field. By realizing this moment, you will not be alone, you will also carry his dream. When he sees you take the field, he will be there in your thoughts, in your every step, in your heart. »
Robertson, who recently left Liverpool to join Tottenham, read the letter on camera at FIFA and thanked Rute Cardoso, ensuring the words will stay with him for a long time.
Scotland are playing their first World Cup since 1998 and will face Haiti on June 11, Morocco on June 19 and Brazil on June 24 in the group stage. For Andrew Robertson, this tournament is a challenge as personal as it is a celebration of friendship and memory: “I will carry it in my heart for every match, and I hope to go beyond that. This tournament will be filled with emotions, and it will always be present in my mind. I'm not just playing for myself, but for both of us. »