Scotland captain Andy Robertson said he would carry the memory of former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota with him at the World Cup after receiving an emotional letter from the late Portugal forward’s widow, Rute Cardoso.
After Scotland qualified for the World Cup in November, Robertson revealed one of his first thoughts was of Jota, who died in a car crash in July aged 28.
On Monday, as part of FIFA’s Letters that unite During the campaign, Robertson shared a message from Cardoso reflecting on the bond the two players forged during their time together at Liverpool.
“Diogo often spoke about you, about the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football and about dreams,” Cardoso wrote.
“The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that you cherished together with the same passion with which you entered the field.
“When I heard your words and what you felt on the day Scotland qualified for the World Cup after so many years of waiting, I realized that Diogo never really left the field.
«By reaching that moment and securing your place at the World Cup, you don’t go alone; you also take his dream with you.»
The letter left a deep impression on Robertson, who said Jota would be at the forefront of his thoughts as he led Scotland to their first World Cup in 28 years.
“I don’t just play for myself, I play for both of us,” Robertson said.
Scotland begin their Group C campaign against Haiti in Boston on June 13 before facing Morocco and Brazil.
Published on June 9, 2026
