Diogo Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso shortly before he died(Image: Rute Cardoso/Instagram)

Diogo Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso has spoken for the first time publicly since the death of the Liverpool forward. Jota, 28, was travelling across Spain in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, when he was tragically killed in a road traffic accident alongside his brother Andre Silva, 25.

Since the passing of the two Portuguese footballers, who played for Liverpool and Penafiel, respectively, the world of football has come together to pay their respects and honour their memory. A shrine of flowers and tributes have been left outside Anfield and Molineux, the home of Jota’s previous club Wolves.

Jota married his long-term partner Rute just two weeks before he died. The couple had three children together who have now been left without a dad.

This afternoon, Rute posted on her Instagram page for the first time since Jota’s death. She shared pictures of the couple dancing at their wedding and a close-up of them holding hands.

In the caption, translated from Portuguese to English, Rute referenced her wedding day and said she would always be his bride. She said: “One month of our ‘until death do us part’. Forever, your white girl.”

Rute was met with hundreds of supportive messages in the comments section. One said: “Stay strong my dear.” Another said: “You’ll never walk alone Rute.” A third person said: “Thoughts are with you and your family, Diogo was an inspiration to all.”

Rute was present at their funeral on July 5 along with family members, friends and Jota’s teammates in their hometown of Gondomar.

She then visited Anfield to see the tributes to the brothers on July 11. She was accompanied by members of the Liverpool FC squad and the Reds’ coach, Arne Slot, as they viewed the floral tributes laid in memory of the brothers.

Images from the visit were posted on the Liverpool FC official Instagram account. The post was captioned: “Our squad and staff paid their respects to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva at Anfield today, alongside members of the brothers’ family.” Members of the Liverpool squad were holding white and red flowers as they paid tribute to Jota and Silva.

Players such as Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Joe Gomez, Luis Diaz and Kostas Tsimikas can be seen on the images shared by the club. Club captain Virgil van Dijk is also pictured laying the flowers down at the memorial site.

Rute also left their signature on a ‘Forever 20’ mural wall on which supporters have been invited to sign their name in tribute to Jota.

A further tribute to Jota was completed earlier this week with a special mural created near to Anfield on the exterior of the Halfway House pub.

Jota’s shirt number at Liverpool, 20, has since been retired for all of Liverpool’s teams as a mark of respect. In the list of first-team players and their squad numbers, which is usually divided between goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, forwards and those players out on loan, a new section has been added called “Forever” in which Jota and his number 20 have been placed.

There were a number of tributes to Jota ahead of the opening pre-season friendly at Preston North End on July 13. Wolves are planning their own special commemoration ahead of their next two home games.