Who is Rute Cardoso? Wife turned widow after Diogo Jota’s tragic death
At 28 years old and a mother of three, Rute Cardoso is the widow of Diogo Jota. The couple were high school sweethearts and exchanged their vows eleven days before the Portuguese football star passed away in a fatal car crash.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Diogo Jota and his wife Rute Cardoso had exchanged their vows days before the Liverpool player passed away in a car accident alongside his younger brother André Silva.
- Rute Cardoso and Diogo Jota have been together since 2013, and were engaged in July 2022.
- Diogo Jota had three children with Rute: Dinis, Duarte, and a daughter whose name is yet to be revealed.
Rute Cardoso's profile summary
| Full name | Rute Cardoso |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 1996 |
| Age | 28 years old (as of 2025) |
| Place of birth | Porto, Portugal |
| Current residence | Porto, Portugal |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Husband | Diogo Jota |
| Children | Dinis, Duarte, and a daughter |
| Famous as | Diogo Jota's wife |
| Social media |
Exploring facts about Rute Cardoso's biography
Rute rose to prominence following her decades-long relationship with Diogo Jota. The couple were high school sweethearts and exchanged their vows on June 22, 2025, before the top football legend passed away in a car crash eleven days later.
In an Instagram reel of footage of their wedding, a voice narrates how they met and how much they love each other. It said,
Dear Rute, Dear Diogo...today is a day that will mark your lives for the rest of your days. This is the only day that you have been able to get together at the same time in the same place with your family and friends to celebrate what truly matters, which is love.
Source: Original
A look into Rute Cardoso's age and early life
Rute Cardoso, aged 28 years as of 2025, was born in Porto, Portugal, in 1996. She holds Portuguese nationality and attended the same high school as her late husband.
Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso's relationship timeline
Diogo and Rute began their relationship in high school around 2013 before moving to Spain in 2016. Rute talked of the big step of following Jota. She said,
We've been dating for four years and, with his life, it makes sense to follow him. In addition to being his girlfriend and best friend, I'm his number one fan, I want to be there.
They were together for over a decade before getting engaged in July 2022 and marrying in Porto, Portugal, on June 22, 2025. Cardoso took to Instagram to share the joyful moment of their wedding. She captioned,
June 22, 2025 .Yes, forever.
Source: Instagram
How many children does Diogo Jota have?
Diogo Jota and his wife have three children: two boys and a girl. Their first child, Dinis, was born on February 8, 2021. Their second child, Duarte, was born on March 8, 2023.
Following Duarte's birth, Rute took to Instagram to announce the new addition to their family in an adorable post. She captioned,
Welcome to our family baby D.
Diogo and his wife welcomed their third child, a daughter, on November 26, 2024. However, her name is yet to be made public.
Source: Instagram
A look at Diogo Jota's accident and death
Diogo Jota died in a tragic car accident on July 3, 2025, on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, in the province of Zamora, northwestern Spain. The accident occurred around 12:30 a.m. local time.
Jota and his brother, André Silva, were heading to Santander, Spain, to catch a ferry to England for Liverpool's pre-season. He was advised not to fly because of a recent lung surgery.
Spanish police investigations reported that their car, a Lamborghini, suffered a tyre blowout while Jota attempted to overtake another vehicle. This caused the car to veer off the road and crash before exploding into flames. Part of the police statement read,
The vehicle, a Lamborghini, crashed and went off the road due to a tire blowout while overtaking.
Diogo Jota's memorial service and funeral
Following the athlete's death, his wife, Rute, was called upon to identify the body following the severity of the accident. She later attended the memorial service held at Anfield. Some of the top players present include Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Renato Veiga, Nelson Semedo, Rui Patricio, and Ruben Neves.
Diogo's last public message to his wife was to cherish his love for her. After Cardoso took to Instagram and wrote, 'My dream came true.' Jota's response was 'But I'm the lucky one.'
Source: Getty Images
Trivia
- Rute is a travel enthusiast who often posts her travels on her Instagram.
- In October 2023, she openly called out Premier League referees on social media after a controversial decision against Jota.
- Rute was Jota's constant pillar throughout his football career, from his early days at Paços de Ferreira, through Wolverhampton, to one of the richest football clubs, Liverpool.
- Following Diogo's death, Liverpool announced it would permanently retire his jersey number, No. 20, as a tribute to the late athlete.
In summary
Rute Cardoso and Diogo Jota began their relationship in the early 2010s, when they were in high school. They were in a decade-long relationship until tying the knot on June 22, 2025, 11 days before the athlete passed away in a car crash.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
