Diogo Jota’s widow has urged Scotland captain Andy Robertson to live the World Cup dream of his former Liverpool team-mate.
Robertson spoke of Jota immediately after leading Scotland to qualification for the first time since 1998, revealing how his late friend had been on his mind throughout the build-up to the victory over Denmark which clinched their place at the tournament.
The pair had spoken of their dream of making the finals as they trained together during the 2022 tournament after Jota missed out on the Portugal squad through injury.
While his Scotland team-mates celebrated, an emotional Robertson spoke of his grief that Jota would not be able to join him, four months after the 28-year-old died in a road accident that also killed his brother, Andre Silva.
In a letter to Robertson published by FIFA, Rute Cardoso, the mother of Jota’s three children, said: ‘I am writing to you with a heart full of longing, gratitude and, above all, pride.
‘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.
Scotland skipper Andy Robertson admits his former team-mate is never far from his thoughts
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.
‘That’s how we do it here at home too. Every day. He would be, and is, incredibly proud of you. Cherish that dream, Andy. Live it for yourself and for him.’
Robertson was filmed by FIFA reading out the letter and thanking his friend’s wife for her words.
Robertson paid tribute to his friend in the moments immediately after Scotland’s qualification
Jota and Robertson were firm friends on and off the park and often spoke about the World Cup
The 32-year-old, who is moving to Tottenham this summer, said: ‘It’s obviously amazing of Rute to even take the time, for what she’s going through, to write me a letter, but it just sums up the person that she is.
‘Thankfully, I got to know her and the amazing times that they had. That letter will stay with me for a very long time.’
The 32-year-old added: ‘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.’
