The widow of late Portugal forward Diogo Jota has urged Scotland captain Andrew Robertson to carry her husband’s World Cup dream with him as he prepares to lead his country at football’s biggest tournament.
Jota died aged 28 in a car crash in July after helping Portugal secure qualification for the World Cup. Despite earning 49 caps for his country, the former Liverpool forward never played at the tournament, having missed the 2022 edition through injury.
In an emotional letter published by FIFA on Tuesday, Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, reflected on the close friendship between the two former Liverpool teammates and the dream they shared of playing on the World Cup stage.
“Diogo often spoke of you. Of the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football and about dreams,” Cardoso wrote.
“The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that the two of you nurtured, side by side, with the same passion with which you took to the pitch.”
Cardoso revealed she was deeply moved by Robertson’s comments after Scotland secured qualification for the tournament in November.
“When I heard your words and learnt what you felt on that day when Scotland qualified for the World Cup, after so many years of waiting, I realised that Diogo never truly left the pitch,” she said.
She added: “By achieving that moment and securing your place at the World Cup, you won’t be going alone. You’ll be taking his dream with you too.
“And when you step on to the pitch, I know it won’t just be you walking out. Diogo will be with you in your thoughts, in your steps, in your heart.”
Cardoso also thanked Robertson for continuing to honour her husband’s memory.
“So today, I want to thank you. Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for taking him with you. Thank you for turning the pain of loss into strength and into something so beautiful,” she wrote.
“He would be, and is, incredibly proud of you. Cherish that dream, Andy. Live it for yourself and for him.”
Robertson had previously spoken of Jota after Scotland booked their place at the World Cup, admitting his former teammate was at the forefront of his thoughts.
“I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today,” Robertson said.
“We spoke so much about going to the World Cup because he missed the last one with Portugal and I did with Scotland. I know he’ll be smiling over me today.”
The Scotland captain, who recently joined Tottenham Hotspur after leaving Liverpool, was visibly emotional while reading Cardoso’s letter in a FIFA video.
Responding to the heartfelt message, Robertson vowed to carry Jota’s memory throughout the tournament.
“I’ll carry him in my heart and I know he’ll be with me come the first game, come the second game, come the third game and hopefully beyond that.
“He’s always there. The memories are always something that we bring up and sometimes laugh, sometimes cry.
“And that will be no different, especially going into a tournament which is full of emotion. I know he’ll be right at the front of my mind.
“I’m not only just playing for me. I’m playing for both of us,” he added.