By Sport Analyst
Emmanuel Afonja
Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves has angrily rejected rumors suggesting he is romantically involved with the widow of his late best friend, Diogo Jota, after a magazine cover misleadingly framed an image of them together.
The controversy erupted on Wednesday when Portuguese outlet TV Guia splashed a front-page photo that appeared to show Neves sharing an intimate moment with Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso. The picture, likely taken just before an embrace or a customary kiss on the cheek, was paired with the headline: “After death: How Diogo Jota’s widow leans on his best friend.”
The publication triggered outrage online, with many interpreting the image as evidence of a romantic connection.
Neves: “A Disrespectful and Hurtful Portrayal”
Neves, who now plays for Saudi side Al-Hilal, swiftly issued a strongly worded response on social media. He stressed that his 11-year relationship with his wife, Débora Lourenço, remains solid and that his only intention has been to support Jota’s family through their grief.
“The person who chose that picture for the magazine cover does not deserve to be happy,” Neves wrote. “For more than 11 years, I’ve been with my wife, we’ve built a family, and never once have we been involved in controversy. To exploit our pain like this is deeply unfair.”
He added: “We’ve done our best to help Rute and her children since this tragedy. I’m proud of my wife, proud of the family we’ve built, and proud of the strength Rute has shown. She knows we’re here for her in any way she needs.”
Neves made it clear his anger lies not with the article — which largely highlighted his role as a supportive friend — but with the magazine’s decision to use a misleading photo to sensationalize the story.
A Bond Beyond Football
Jota and Neves shared more than just a professional career; they forged a brotherly bond that extended off the pitch. Having played together at Porto, Wolves, and with the Portuguese national team, the pair featured side by side on 164 occasions.
When Jota and his brother André were killed in a car crash in July, Neves was among the first to step in to support the grieving family. He attended the funeral, delivered a heartfelt tribute at a ceremony in Jota’s honor, and even tattooed an image of himself hugging Jota on his leg.
At a memorial earlier this month, Neves read aloud a hand-written letter to Jota, calling him “family” and vowing that his presence would always remain with the Portuguese national team.
Carrying Jota’s Legacy
In recognition of their friendship, Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martínez confirmed that Neves will now wear the No. 21 jersey — Jota’s shirt number — whenever he plays for the national team. Liverpool has also retired Jota’s No. 20 shirt in his memory.
“More than friends, we were family,” Neves said in his tribute speech. “Life brought us together and nothing can break that bond. From now on, you’ll step onto the pitch with us every time we play.”
Protecting a Friend’s Family
Those close to Neves insist that his support for Rute Cardoso is born out of loyalty to his late friend and compassion for Jota’s three young children, not romance.
Yet the incident highlights the uncomfortable intersection between grief, public life, and media sensationalism. By choosing a photo that misrepresented a moment of comfort as something more, the magazine has sparked a storm of speculation that Neves insists is both “unjust and disrespectful.”
As the dust settles, one thing remains clear: Ruben Neves is determined to protect his family, uphold his late friend’s legacy, and shield Jota’s widow and children from unnecessary pain.
