Diogo Jota's widow writes touching letter to Andy Robertson ahead of the World Cup

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Martin Macdonald | Writer

Content writer covering football, formula 1 and movies

The widow of Diogo Jota has penned an emotional letter to Andy Robertson ahead of the start of the World Cup this week.

Last summer, Liverpool Football Club and the world were left shocked when news circulated that Jota had died after a car accident in Spain, ahead of the 2025/26 season.

There was an outpouring of grief at Anfield, no more so from Jota's team-mates and it appears he and Robertson were particularly close. When Scotland secured qualification for the World Cup in November by defeating Denmark, the left-back said:

"I couldn't get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today. 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."

Several players, including Robertson, have spoken about the emotional impact of losing their friend in such a tragic way and how it affected their campaign.

Scotland return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 this week when they face Haiti and Robertson has revealed details of a good-luck letter sent by Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso.

The letter reads:

"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.

"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.

Diogo Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso, has written a letter to Scotland captain Andy Robertson ahead of the World Cup.

She thanks Robertson for his friendship, and for preserving Diogo's memory. Robertson adds he'll have Jota at the forefront of his mind.🙏 pic.twitter.com/h5KsfPyCCx

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 8, 2026

"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, who is set to leave Liverpool and join Tottenham this summer, was filmed reading out the letter and became visibly emotional.

He said afterwards:

"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."

Scotland are in a group alongside Haiti, Morocco and Brazil while Jota's Portugal are up against DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia.