Diogo Jota tribute sparks heartbreaking reaction from Neves and Cancelo at Club World Cup

Portuguese duo Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo could not contain their tears during an emotional pre-match tribute to compatriot Diogo Jota at the Club World Cup. Ahead of their quarter-final clash on Friday, Al Hilal and Fluminense held a moment's silence in memory of the former Liverpool forward after his tragic death.

On Thursday morning, the shocking news emerged that Jota and his brother, Andre, had passed away after a road traffic accident in Spain. The 28-year-old and his sibling, 26, were driving on the A-52 in the province of Zamora when their Lamborghini left the road due to a tyre blowout and caught fire.

Firefighters were called to the scene, near the town of Palacios de Sanabria, shortly after midnight to extinguish the flames.

But both passengers tragically lost their lives, and news of the incident shocked the football world to its core.

The Club World Cup continued on Friday, with Al Hilal and Fluminense meeting in the first quarter-final at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Before kick-off, both teams met in the centre circle to pay tribute to Jota with a moment's silence, which proved too much for his ex-teammates Neves and Cancelo.

For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express transfer newsletter.

Cameras caught both players in tears, and Neves was particularly inconsolable as he received attention from Al Hilal defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

The 28-year-old, who played with Jota at Wolves for three years as well as the Portuguese national team, added to the wave of emotional online tributes hours earlier in the day.

He wrote on Instagram, accompanied by a carousel of images featuring the duo: "Bug, wherever you are, I know you will read this.

"We were never this lame, and I may regret it now a little, but you know what you mean to me as much as I know what I am to you.

"More than a friendship, we're family, and we won't stop it just because now you decided to sign a contract a little further away from us!

"When I go to the selection, you'll still be next to me at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane... you'll always be there with me, as always. Let's keep laughing, making plans, sharing our life with each other.

"I'm going to make sure you're always present, and I'll make sure that your loved ones never lack anything while you're there, far away, but thinking of us, waiting for us.

"Life has brought us together, and now it can't tear us apart. We've achieved some great things together; we still have a lot to go. I know we can.

"From today on, you will enter the field with me and we will follow our path together, on the stage where we met. Diogoal, you are my favourite lemonade!! Amo-te."