Scotland captain Andrew Robertson says he will carry the memory of former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota with him throughout the World Cup after receiving an emotional letter from the Portuguese forward’s widow.
Jota died in a car accident last July at the age of 28, just months after helping Portugal qualify for the tournament in North America.
Despite winning 49 international caps, the forward never had the opportunity to play at a World Cup. Injury ruled him out of Portugal’s squad for Qatar 2022 and he tragically passed away before the 2026 finals.
Jota’s widow sends heartfelt message
In a letter published by FIFA, Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, thanked Robertson for keeping her husband’s memory alive and urged him to fulfil a dream the pair had often discussed together.
“Diogo often spoke about you,” she wrote.
“He spoke about the friendship you built, the challenges you faced together, the conversations you had about football and about your dreams.
“The World Cup was one of those dreams. It was something you both wanted to experience and worked towards with the same passion.
“When Scotland qualified and I heard what you said afterwards, I realised Diogo had never truly left the pitch.
“When you walk out at the World Cup, you won’t be alone. You will be carrying his dream with you too.”
Cardoso added that Jota would be proud to see Robertson representing Scotland on football’s biggest stage.
“Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for taking him with you.
“Live that dream, Andy. Live it for yourself and for him.”
Robertson: ‘I’ll carry him in my heart’
Robertson, who was filmed reading the letter by FIFA, admitted the message would stay with him for a long time.
The defender spoke openly about the bond he shared with Jota during their years together at Liverpool and said thoughts of his former team-mate remain close.
“I’ll carry him in my heart,” Robertson said.
“I know he’ll be with me for the first game, the second game, the third game and hopefully beyond that.
“He’s always there. The memories never leave you. Sometimes they make you laugh and sometimes they make you cry.
“Going into a tournament like this, with all the emotion that comes with it, he’ll be right at the front of my mind.”
The Scotland captain added: “I’m not only playing for myself. I’m playing for both of us.”
Following Scotland’s qualification for the World Cup in November, Robertson revealed that Jota was one of the first people he thought about after securing a place at the finals.
The pair had often spoken about experiencing the tournament together after both missed out four years earlier.
“I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head,” Robertson said at the time.
“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.”
Scotland ready for long-awaited return
Scotland are preparing for their first World Cup appearance since 1998.
Steve Clarke’s side begin their Group C campaign against Haiti before facing Morocco and Brazil as they attempt to reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
