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By LEWIS BROWNING, SPORTS REPORTER Published: 09: 24 AEST, 3 September 2025 | Updated: 09: 30 AEST, 3 September 2025 4 View comments Portugal star Ruben Neves has paid yet another emotional tribute to team-mate and close friend Diogo Jota following the footballer's death aged 28 as Portugal met up for the first time since the player's passing. Jota and his brother, Andre, passed away at the start of July in a car crash that shook the footballing world, with the game coming together to remember the duo in a number of ways. Portugal are set to play for the first time since the tragic incident this week, with the team to face Armenia and Hungary in World Cup qualifiers over the next fortnight. Tributes continue to flood in, with the nation first naming 23 players and leaving one spot vacant for Jota, who made 49 appearances for the senior Portugal team and scored 14 goals. Some of the most heartbreaking tributes, however, have come through Neves, who cut an emotional figure at Jota's funeral and has supported the star's widow,  Rute Cardoso, who married Jota 11 days before his death. Now, in a training session while on international duty on Tuesday, Neves sported a new tattoo - which is on his left calf and shows him and Jota hugging. ? ?? ?? ? ?? ?́? ? ?? ?? ?? ?? . Somos 23+? . ? pic. twitter. com/Z2HFPFk3CR Portugal star Ruben Neves has shown off a heartwarming tattoo of Diogo Jota following the star's passing aged 28 Neves and Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured) were among the Portugal cohort that attended a ceremony in tribute to the forward Neves and Wolves played together for Porto, Wolves and Portugal, featuring on the pitch at the same time a total of 164 times. Neves is also set to now wear Jota's shirt number for Portugal - 21 - to carry his friend's legacy. Liverpool have retired Jota's No 20 shirt. The news was confirmed by Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, who said: 'The No 21 jersey will go to Ruben Neves because, that way, that number will remain on the field and with all of us. 'He had a very close relationship with Diogo and is the ideal person to represent him. ' A special ceremony celebrating Jota's life was held on Tuesday too, with Rute present to unveil a framed bronze Portugal shirt with Jota's name and number on at the nation's training base in Lisbon. She was also awarded with a special media, alongside Jota's parents. The ceremony was attended by the Portugal team - including Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed the funeral - as well as Jota's family, Portugal FA officials, agent Jorge Mendes and Portugal's president and Prime Minister. At the event, Neves delivered a speech, which also featured a video showing Neves reading a hand-written letter to Jota. Neves and Jota were close friends and played alongside each other on 164 occasions Neves delivered a speech at the ceremony, which Jota's family also attended His widow, Rute Cardoso, who married Jota 11 days before his death,  unveiled a framed bronze Portugal shirt with Jota's name and number on In the speech, a tearful Neves said: 'Everyone in the national team felt these words to the same extent and speaking as a group, I think they fit extremely well with what our first meeting will be like. 'More than friends, we're family. And that won't change just because you've signed a contract a little farther from home. 'When we join the national team, you'll still be with us - at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane. Always by our side, just like you've always been. 'We'll keep laughing, making plans and sharing life the way we always have. We'll make sure you're never missing from our lives and that your loved ones have everything they need while you're away, thinking of us, waiting for us. 'Life brought us together and nothing can break that bond. We've already achieved so much together, and there's still so much more ahead and we know we'll make it. 'From today on, you'll step on to the pitch with us and we'll keep moving forward together on the stage where it all began. ' Jota's final game for his country came on June 8, when he starred in the National League final as his team won the trophy again, defeating Spain in the last game of the tournament.

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