Rute Cardoso, the wife of late Portugal international Diogo Jota, has written a deeply emotional letter to Scotland captain Andy Robertson as part of FIFA’s “Letters That Unite” feature ahead of the World Cup.
In the letter, Cardoso expressed gratitude, admiration and sadness as she reflected on the friendship between Jota and Robertson, which developed during their time together at Liverpool.
She said Jota often spoke warmly about Robertson, describing their bond both on and off the pitch. According to her, their relationship was built on shared experiences, including training sessions, matches, victories, defeats, conversations about football, and personal dreams.
Cardoso highlighted one of those shared dreams, playing at the FIFA World Cup, saying it was something both players had hoped to achieve together with great passion and commitment.
Addressing Robertson directly, she wrote that when she heard about Scotland’s qualification for the World Cup after a long wait, she felt a strong emotional connection to Jota’s memory. She said it felt like her husband had never truly left the game he loved so much.
She added that by reaching the World Cup, Robertson would not be carrying the dream alone, but also fulfilling it on behalf of Jota. She wrote that Jota would be present “in thoughts, in steps, and in heart” when Robertson steps onto the pitch.
Cardoso also thanked the Scotland captain for remembering her husband and for keeping his memory alive through their shared football journey. She said transforming pain into strength was something her family also tries to do every day.
She ended her message by encouraging Robertson to cherish the moment and live the World Cup dream fully, both for himself and for Jota, adding that the late footballer would be “incredibly proud” of him.
